27M    flSE 


LIBRARY 

OK  THI-: 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

O-IKT  (  )K 


,i8()6. 
Accessions  No.  (p  0  1  fcb  •       da*s  No. 


1 


LILITH 


THE   LEGEND   OF   THE  FIRST   WOMAN 


BY 


ADA    LANGWORTHY    COLLIER 


BOSTON 
D.  LOTHROP  AND  COMPANY 

FRANKLIN   AND    HAWLEY   STREETS 


COPYRIGHT,  1885. 
D.  LOTHROP  &  COMPANY. 


PREFACE. 


That  Eve  was  Adam's  second  wife  was  a  common  Rabbinic  speculation.  Cer 
tain  commentators  on  Genesis  adopted  this  view,  to  account  for  the  double 
account  of  the  creation  of  woman,  in  the  sacred  text,  first  in  Genesis  i.  27,  and 
second  in  Genesis  xi.  18.  And  they  say  that  Adam's  first  wife  was  named  Lilith, 
but  she  was  expelled  from  Eden,  and  after  her  expulsion  Eve  was  created.  Abra 
ham  Ecchelensis  gives  the  following  account  of  Lilith  and  her  doings  :  "  There 
are  some  who  do  not  regard  spectres  as  simple  devils,  but  suppose  them  to  be  of 
a  mixed  nature  —  part  demoniacal,  part  human,  and  to  have  had  their  origin  from 
Lilith,  Adam's  first  wife,  by  Eb.is,  prince  of  the  devils.  This  fable  has  been 
transmitted  to  the  Arabs,  from  Jewish  sources,  by  some  converts  of  Mohamet 
from  Cabbalism  and  Rabbinism,  who  have  transferred  all  the  Jewish  fooleries  to 
the  Arabs.  They  gave  to  Adam  a  wife  formed  of  clay,  along  with  Adam,  and 
called  her  Lilith,  resting  on  the  Scripture  :  '  Male  and  female  created  He  them.'  " 
Legends  of  the  Patriarchs  and  Prophets.—  Baring  Gould, 

Lilith  or  Lilis.—  In  the  popular  belief  of  the  Hebrews,  a  female  spectre  in  the 
shape  of  a  finely  dressed  woman,  who  lies  in  wait  for,  and  kills  children.  The  old 
Rabbins  turned  Lilith  into  a  wife  of  Adam,  on  whom  he  begat  demons  and  who 
still  has  power  to  lie  with  men  and  kill  children  who  are  not  protected  by  amulets 
with  which  the  Jews  of  a  yet  later  period  supply  themselves  as  a  protection  against 
her.  Burton  in  his  A  natomy  of  Melancholy  tells  us  :  "  The  Talmudists  say  that 
Adam  had  a  wife  called  Lilis,  before  he  married  Eve,  and  of  her  he  begat  nothing 
but  devils."  A  commentator  on  Skinner,  quoted  in  the  Encyclopedia  Metropol- 
itana,  says  that  the  English  word  Lullaby  is  derived  from  Lilla,  abi  (  begone, 
Lilith  )  !  In  the  demonology  of  the  Middle  Ages,  Lilis  was  a  famous  witch,  and 
is  introduced  as  such  in  the  Walpurgis  night  scene  in  Goethe's  "  Faust."—  Web 
ster's  Dictionary. 

Our  word  Lullaby  is  derived  from  two  Arabic  words  which  mean  "  Beware  of 
Lilith!"—  Anon. 

Lilith,  the  supposed  wife  of  Adam,  after  she  married  Eblis,  is  said  to  have  ruled 
over  the  city  of  Damascus.—  Legends  of  the  Patriarchs  and  Prophets.  -  Baring 
Gould. 

From  these  few  and  meagre  details  of  a  fabled  existence, 
which  are  all  that  the  author  has  been  able  to  collect  from 
any  source  whatever,  has  sprung  the  following  poem.  The 
poet  feels  quite  justified  in  dissenting  from  the  statements 
made  in  the  preceding  extracts,  and  has  not  drawn  Lilith  as 

5 


6  PREFACE. 

there  represented  —  the  bloodthirsty  sovereign  who  ruled 
Damascus,  the  betrayer  of  men,  the  murderer  of  children. 
The  Lilith  of  the  poem  is  transferred  to  the  more  beautiful 
shadow-world.  To  that  country  which  is  the  abode  of  poets 
themselves.  And  about  her  is  wrapt  the  humanizing  element 
still,  and  everywhere  embodied  in  the  sweetest  word  the 
human  tongue  can  utter  —  lullaby.  Some  critics  declare  that 
true  literary  art  inculcates  a  lofty  lesson  —  has  a  high  moral 
purpose.  If  poets  and  their  work  must  fall  under  this  rigor 
ous  rule,  then  alas  "  Lilith "  will  knock  at  the  door  of 
public  opinion  with  a  trembling  hand  indeed.  If  the  poem 
have  either  moral  aim  or  lesson  of  any  kind  ( which  observe, 
gentle  critic,  it  is  by  no  means  asserted  that  it  has),  it  is 
simply  to  show  that  the  strongest  intellectual  powers  contain 
no  elements  adverse  to  the  highest  and  purest  exercise  of 
the  affectional  nature.  That,  in  its  true  condition,  the  noblest, 
the  most  cultured  intellect,  and  the  loveliest,  sublimest  moral 
and  emotional  qualities,  together  weave  the  web  that  clothes 
the  world's  great  soul  with  imperishable  beauty.  The  posses 
sor  of  highest  intellectual  capacity  will  be  also  capable  of 
highest  developments  in  the  latter  qualities.  The  woman  of 
true  intellect  is  the  woman  of  truest  affection.  For  the  rest 
let  Lilith  speak,  whose  life  dropped  unrecorded  from  the 
earliest  world.  It  is  the  poet's  hope  that  the  chords  of  the 
mother-heart  universal  will  respond  to  the  song  of  the 
childless  one.  That  in  the  survival  of  that  one  word  lullaby, 
may  be  revivified  the  pathetic  figure  of  one  whose  home, 
whose  hope,  whose  Eden  passed  to  another.  Whose  name 
living  in  the  terrors  of  superstitious  peoples,  now  lingers  in 
Earth's  sweetest  utterance.  That  Pagan  Lilith,  re-baptized 
in  the  pure  waters  of  maternal  love,  shall  breathe  to  heathen 
and  Christian  motherhood  alike,  that  most  sacred  love  of 
Earth  still  throbbing  through  its  tender  lullaby.  A.  L.  C. 


TO   VALERIA. 

BROIDERIES     and     ancient    stuffs     that    some 
queen 

Wore;  nor  gems   that  warriors'  hilts  encrusted; 
Nor  fresh  from  heroes'   brows   the   laurels  green  ; 
Nor   bright    sheaves   by  bards    of   eld   entrusted 
To   earth's   great   granaries  —  I   bring   not   these. 

Only  thin,    scattered   blades   from   harvests  gleaned 
Erewhile   I  plucked,   may   happen   thee   to  please. 

So   poor   indeed,   those   others   had   demeaned 
Themselves  to  cull ;    or  from  their  strong,  firm  hands 
Down  dropped  about  their  feet  with  careless  laugh, 
Too   broken   for   home   gathering,  these   strands, 

Or   else   more   useless   than   the  idle    chaff. 
But   I   have   garnered   them.      Yet,    lest   they   seem 

Unworthy,    and   so   shame    Love's   offering, 
Amid   the   loose-bound   sheaf   stray   flowers   gleam. 

And  fairer   seeming   make   the   gift   I   bring, 
Lilies  blood-red,   that  lit   the   waving   field, 

And   now   are   knotted  through    the   golden   grain. 
Thou    wilt   not   scorn    the    tribute    I    now   yield, 
Nor   even    deem   the   foolish   flowers  vain. 
7 


8  DEDICATION. 

So   take    it,    and   if   still  too   slight,   too   small 

It    seem,    think    'tis   a   bloom   that    grew    anear, 
In    other   Springtime,  the   old   garden   wall. 

(That   pale   blue    flower  you   will    remember,  dear. 
The   heedless   world,    unseeing,    passed  it   by, 

And   left   it   to   the   bee    and   you.)     Then    say, 
"Because   the   hands  that   tended   it   are   nigh 

No    more,    and   little   feet    are   gone    away 
That   round   it  trampled   down   the   beaded   grass, 

Sweeter   to   me   it   is   than   musky   spray 
Of   Southland;  and   dearer   than   days   that   pass 

In  other   summer-tides."     This   simple    song 
Read   so,   dear  heart ;  Nay,    rather  white-souled  one, 

Think   'tis  an   olden   echo,   wandered  long 
From    a   low   bed   where  'neath   the  westering  sun 
You   sang.     And   if   your   lone   heart  ever   said 
"Lo,    she  is  gone,    and   cannot  more   be   mine," 

Say  now,  "She  is  not  changed  —  she  is  not  wed,— 
She   never   left   her   cradle   bed.     Still   shine 

The   pillows   with   the   print   of  her  wee   head." 
So,  mother-heart,  this  song,  where  through  still  rings 

The   strain   you   sang   above   my  baby  bed, 
I   bring.     An   idle   gift   mayhap,    that   clings 

About   old   days  forgotten   long,    and   dead. 
This  loitering   tale,   Valeria,   take. 

Perchance  'tis   sad,  and   hath   not   any   mirth, 
Yet   love   thou   it,   for  the   weak   singer's   sake, 
And   hold   it   dear,    though   yet   is   little   worth, 


TO   VALERIA.  9 

This  tale   of  Elder-world :   of  earth's  first  prime, 
Of  years  that  in  their  grave   so  long  have   lain, 

To-day's  dull  ear,   through  poets'   tuneful    rhyme 
No  echo  hears,   nor  mocking  friar's   strain. 
July  17,  1884. 


BOOK  I. 


LILITH. 

BOOK  I. 

PURE   as   an   angel's  dream   shone   Paradise. 
Blue   mountains   hemmed   it   round;    and   airy 

sighs 

Of   rippling   waters   haunted   it.     Dim   glades, 
And    wayward     paths    o'erflecked    with     shimmering 

shades, 

And  tangled  dells,   and  wilding  pleasances, 
Hung  moist  with   odors   strange  from   scented   trees. 
Sweet    sounds    o'erbrimmed     the    place ;     and    rare 

perfumes, 

Faint   as  far  sunshine,  fell  'mong  verdant  glooms. 
In  that  fair   land,    all   hues,    all   leafage   green 
Wrapt  flawless   days  in   endless   summer-sheen. 
Bright  eyes,   the   violet   waking,  lifted  up 
Where   bent   the   lily  her   deep,   fragrant  cup; 
And  folded  buds,    'gainst   many   a   leafy   spray  — 
The  wild-woods'  voiceless  nuns  —  knelt  down  to  pray. 
There   roses,   deep  in  greenest  mosses   swathed, 
Kept   happy   tryst  with   tropic   blooms,  sun-bathed. 
No  sounds  of  sadness  surged  through  listening  trees : 

13 


i4  LILITH. 

The  waters   babbled   low ;   the   errant   bees 
Made  answer,    murmurous ;    nor  paled   the    hue 
The  jonquils   wore  ;    nor  chill    the  wild    breath   grew 
Of  daisies  clustered    white    in    dewy  croft ; 
Nor   fell    the   tasseled  plumes    as   satin  soft 
Upon   the   broad-leaved   corn.     Sweet   all   the    day 
O'erflowed   with    music   every   woodland   way ; 
And   sweet   the   jargonings   of   nested   bird, 
When   light   the   listless   wind   the   forest   stirred. 

Straight  as  the  shaft  that  'gainst  the  morning  sun 
The   slender   palm   uprears,    the    Fairest   one  — 
The   first   of   womankind  —  sweet   Lilith  —  stood, 
A  gracious   shape   that  glorified  the  wood. 
About   her  rounded   shoulders   warm   and  bare, 
Like  netted  sunshine   fell  her   lustrous   hair; 
The   rosy   flush   of  young   pomegranate   bells 
Dawned  -on   her   cheeks ;   and   blue  as  in  lone  dells 
Sleep   the    Forget-me-nots,   her  eyes.     With   bent 
Brows,   sullen-creased,    swart    Adam   gazed   intent 
Upon   a   leopard,    crouched   low   in   its   place 
Beneath   his   feet.     Not   once   in   Lilith's  face 
He   looked,   nor   sought    her  wistful,   downcast   eyes 
With   shifting    shadows   dusk,    and    strange   surprise. 
"  O,   Love,"   she    said,    "no   more   let   us   contend! 
So   sweet   is   life,    anger,   methinks,    should   end. 
In   this,   our  garden   bright,   why   dost   thou   claim 
Ever   the   highest   place,   the   noblest   name  ? 
Freely   to   both   our   Lord   gave   self-same   sway 


LILITH.  15 

O'er   living   things.     Love,    thou    art   gone   astray! 

Twin-born,   of   equal   stature,   kindred   soul 

Are  we  ;   like   dowed  with   strength.     Yon   stars  that 

roll 

Their  course    above,    down-looking   on   my   face, 
See   yours   as   fair;   in   neither   aught   that's   base. 
Thy  wife,   not   handmaid   I,   yet   thou   dost   say, 
'  I   first   in   Eden   rule.'     Thou,   then,   hast   sway. 
Must   I,   my   Adam,   mutely   follow    thee  ? 
Run   at   thy   bidding,    crouch    beside    thy   knee  ? 
Lift   up   ( when   thou   dost   bid   me )   timid   eyes  ? 
Not   so  will   Lilith   dwell   in   Paradise." 
"Mine     own,"    Adam    made    answer     soft,     "'twere 

best 

Thou   didst   forget   such   ills   in   noontide   rest. 
Content   I   wake,   the   keeper   of   the   place. 
Of   equal   stature  ?     Yea !     Of   self-same   grace  ? 
Nay,   Love ;   recall   those   lately  vanished   eves, 
When  we   together  plucked   the   plantain   leaves; 
Yon   leopard   lowly   stretched   at   my   command 
Its   lazy   length   beneath   my   soothing   hand. 
At   thee   she   snarled,   disdaining   half,  to   sheathe 
'Neath   thy  soft  pleading  eyes  her  milk-white   teeth. 
Oft,   Love,   in   other  times,   in   sheltered   nook, 
We    scattered   pearly   millet   by    the   brook. 
Lo  thine   lay  barren   in   the    sand.     Quick   mine 
Upspringing   sifts   o'er   pale   blooms   odors   fine : 
Hateful   thy  chidings  grow;   each   breeze    doth  bring 


16  LILITH. 

Ever  thy  plaints — thy  fretful    murmuring. 
These   many   days    I   weary  of   thy   sighs; 
Know,   Lilith,    I  alone   rule    Paradise." 
Thereat  he   rose,    and   quick   at   every   stride 
The   fawning   leopard   gambolled   at  his   side. 

So  fell   the   first   dark   shadow   of   Earth's   strife. 
With   coming   evil  all   the  winds  were   rife. 
Lone   lay   the    land  with   sense   of  dull    loss   paled. 
The   days   grew   sick   at  heart;  the  sunshine   failed; 
And  falling  waters   breathed   in   silvery  moan 
A  hidden   ail   to   starlit   dells   alone  — 
As    sometimes    you    have     seen,    'neath    household 

eaves, 

'Mong   scents   of   Springtime,  in   the   budded   leaves, 
The  swallows  circling  blithe,  with  slant   brown  wing, 
Home-flying  fleet,   with   tender   chattering, 
And   all   the   place   o'errun   with   nested    love  — 
So  have   you   come,   when   leaves  hung   crisp   above 
The   silent   door.     Yet   not   again,    I   ween, 
Those   shining  wings,   cleaving   the   air,   have    seen 
Nor  heard  the  gladsome  swallows  twittering  there  — 
Only  the   empty   nests,  low-hung   and   bare, 
Spake   of   the   scattered  brood. —  So  lonely   were 
To   Lilith  grown   her   once    loved   haunts.     Nor  fair 
The    starlit   nights,    slow-dropping  fragrant   dew, 
Nor    the     dim    groves    when    dawn     came    shifting 

through. 
Far  'mong  the  hills  the  wood-doves'  moan  she  heard, 


LILITH.  17 

Or  in  some  nearer  copse,   a  startled  bird ; 

Or  the  white   moonshine   'mong  green  boughs  o'er- 

head 
Wrought  her  full  heart  to  tears.      *'  Sweet    peace," 

she   said, 
"Alas  — lies   slain!" 

With  musing  worn,  she  brake 
At  last  her  silence,  and  to  Adam   spake  : 
"  Beyond   these   walls   I   know   not  what   may   be  — 
Islands  low-fringed,    or   bare ;   or  tranquil   sea, 
Spaces   unpeopled,   wastes   of   burning   sands, 
Green-wooded   belts,  enclasping   summer  lands, 
Or  realms   of  dusky   pines,   or  wolds   of  snow, 
Or  jagged   ice-peaks   wrapt   in   purple   glow, 
Or  shadowy  oceans   lapped  in  fadeless   sheen  — 
Yet  there    were   Paradise,   were   Lilith   queen. 
To   dally  with  my  lord   I   was   not   meant ; 
To   soothe   his  idle   whims,    above   him   bent, 
Warm   in   my   milk-white   arms,  lull   his  repose, 
Nor   deep   in   subtle   kisses   drown   his   woes. 
Wherefore,   since   here   no  more   dwells  love,   I   fly 
To   seek   my   home   in   other   lands.     For  why 
Should   Lilith  wait   since   Adam's   empty   state 
More   dear  he   holds   than   Lilith   desolate  ? " 
But  answer  soft  made   Adam   at   the   word, 
For  faint   his   dying  love,   yet   coldly   stirred 
Its   ashen   cerements  :    "  Nay,    love,   our  home 
Within  these  garden  walls  lies   safe.     Wouldst   roam 


1 8  LILITH. 

Without?     Sweet  peace,   by  loss,   wilt   thou  restore 

One   little   loss,   or  miss  it  evermore  ? " 

"In  goodly   Eden,  Adam,   safely  bide, 

But   I,   for  peace,    nor  love,   nor   life,"   she   cried, 

"  Submit   to   thee.     Unto   our   Lord   I   own 

Allegiance   true;   my   homage   his   alone. 

Oft  have   I   watched   the    mists    athwart  yon   peaks, 

Pursuing  oft  past   coves   and   winding   creeks, 

Have   thought  to  touch  their  shining  veil   outspread, 

In   happy  days   ere   Love,   alas,  was   dead; 

So   now,   farewell !     Ere   the   new   day   shall   break 

Adown  their  gleaming   track,    my   way   I   take." 

She   turned;    but   ere   the   gate   that   looked   without 

She   reached,    one   fleeting  moment  paused   in  doubt 

Upon   a   river's   brink.     In   one   swift  glance 

All   coming   time   she   saw.     A   weird   romance 

Wherein   she   traced  great   peoples   yet   unborn, 

New  springing   cycles,    strange  lands   cleft   with  tarn 

Or  pleasant   vale,    and   green   plains   stretching  far, 

And   quiet   bays,    and   many   a   shingly   bar, 

And   troubled   seas,   with   bitter  perils   past, 

And   elfin   shapes   that  jeering  flitted  fast 

With    scornful   faces,    leering   lips   that   smiled, 

Or   bursts   of   laughter   through   that   vision   wild. 

Uncertain,    then,    she    stood,    half   loth   to   turn. 

"Against   yon    deepening   sky,    how    dimly   burn 

The   stars,  new-lit.     Dear  home,  thou   art  so  fair!" 

She   fondly   sighed. 


LILITH.  19 

Then   sudden   she   was  'ware 

The   angel   near  her  paused,  whose  watchful   care 
Guards   Eden's   peaceful   bounds.     Serene,   his   air 
So   tender-sweet,    so    pure   the   gentle   face, 
She   scarce   dared   look   upon   its   subtle   grace. 
Sad   were   his   eyes;   his   words,    rebuking,   fell 
Soft   as   the   moonshine   clear,    in   sleeping    dell. 
"My   sister,   go   not   hence,    lest   these   gates   bar 
Lilith  forever   out.     From   peace   afar, 
Anger    and   pride   shall   lead   through   distant   ways 
Thy  feet   reluctant,   in   the   evil   days. 
All   is   decreed.     At  yonder   southern   gate 
Behold !   waits  even   now   my   princely   mate. 
Thou   can'st   not   tell   which  hath   in   our   far   land 
The   highest   place.     Nay;   nor,    indeed,  whose   hand 
Hath  grasped   the   noblest   fame ;   nor  yet   divine 
Whose   brows   enwound   with   honor,  brightest   shine. 
In   pleasant   labor   lurks   no   thought   of    pain ; 
The   greatest   loss   oft   brings   the   noblest  gain ; 
The    heart's    warm    pulse    feels    not    one    throb     of 

strife, 

And   Love    is   holiest   crown   of   human   life. 
Ere   thou   didst   sleep,   beyond   the  rim   of   night 
I   heard   a  voice   that   sang.     The   carol   light, 
Scarce   earth-born  seemed.      So   sweet  the   matchless 

strain, 

Its    cadence   weird,    lowly   to  breathe   again, 
Wrapt  echo,   listening,  half  forgot;    and  o'er 


20  LILITH. 

And  o'er,   as  joyous   birds   unprisoned   soar, 

The    free    notes    rose.     And   in    the    silence    wide, 

Across   the    seas,    across   the    night,    I    cried : 

O   sinless   soul,   whose   clear   voice    blithely   rings 
'Gainst   the   blue   verge   of    stars!     Tis   Lilith   sings 
The   happy   song   of   love.     O    Love  !    the   tint 
Of   light   divine    thou   wearest.     Thou  hast   no   hint 
Of   storm  or   turmoil,    or   of    Sin's   rough   ways, 
Whose   feet  to   heaven   climb,  through  darkest  maze. 
Ah,   Lilith,  sure  the   love   that  basely  weighs, 
That   stoops   to   count   its   gifts,    and    hoarding,  says, 
'  Such   and   so   many,  these   indeed   are   mine ; 
I   hold   my   treasure   dear,    nor   covet   thine ; ' 
This   is   not  love;    'tis   Thrift  in   borrowed   dress, 
Deceiving   thee.     Love   giveth   free   largess 
With    open   hand,    clean    as   the    whitest  day; 
Yea,    that   it   gave,  forgetteth   it   straightway. 
Beyond   these  walls  dwells  bliss  that  lives  not  here  ? 
When   thou   hast  bartered   peace,    outshining   clear 
And    storm-tossed   wide,    art   wildly   driven    hence, 
The    outer   world   gives  thee    no    recompense. 
Each  shining   sphere   that   trembles   in    blue   space 
Hath  orbit   true  —  its  own  familiar   place. 
Nor   doth   the   planet   pale   that   gems   the   night 
Reel   wanton  down,    the   smallest   star  to   smite. 
No   twining    vine,    tendril,    or   springing  shoot 
Ere    taught   thee    so ;    for  bud    and    leaf   and    root 
Doth  its   best   self   lift   upward   into   light, 


LILITH.  21 

Yet   climbing   still,    scorns   not   the   sacred   right 
That   shrines   its   fellow. 

"  So   pattering   rains 

The  dark  roots  drink  —  and  healthful  juice  slow  drains 
Deep   'neath   the   mould ;    and  with   their   secret   toil 
Bear   stainless,    leaf   and  flow'r   above   the   soil. 
Noblest   the    soul   that    self   hath   most   forgot ; 
Strongest  the  self  which  hath  most  humbly  wrought ; 
Purest   the    soul    that   in   full    light   serene, 
Unquestioning,    enwrapt,    God's   field   doth   glean. 
I    have    seen   worlds   far   hence  ;    thy   tender   feet 
Bleeding,    will    tread  their   stony   ways.     And   sweet 
Is   love.     And   wedded   love,   grown   cold    and   rude, 
More   bitter-seeming   makes   dull   solitude. 
Security   is   sweet ;    and   light   and   warm 
The  young  heart  beats,  close  shut  from  every  harm." 
"  Yet,"    Lilith    answered   slow,    "  in   that   still   night 
Ere    He,  the    garden's    Lord,   passed   from   our  sight, 
Hast   thou   forgot   his  words?     'Lo   this    fair   spot 
Made   for   your   pleasance ;    see   ye    mar   it    not, 
Oh,   twin-horn    pair !     So   richly    dight   with   grace 
Of  soul    and   stature ;    unto   whom   the    place 
I   give.     Together   rule.     Bear   equal    sway 
O'er   all    that   live    herein.'      Hath   Lilith   sought 
A   solitary   reign  ?     Hath   she   in   aught 
Offended?     Nay;    'tis    Adam  who    doth   break 
The   compact.     Therefore,    unhindered   let   me   take 
My  way  far  hence.     I   shall    not   vex   his   soul 


22  LILITH. 

With  fretful  plaints,  where   unknown  stars  shall  roll, 
Far,   far   away,"   she   sighed. 

"Yet   ere   these    bounds 

Thy  feet   pass,   linger.     Lilith,    list  glad    sounds 
That  greet   thine   ear.     Slow   cycles   will   pass   on 
And   in   the   time-to-be-bright   years,   grow   wan  ; 
Old   planets   fade,   new  stars   shall   dimly   burn, 
But   not   to    Eden's  peace   shalt   thou   return. 
Oft  from   thy  yearning   heart   glad   hope   shall   fail. 
Thy  fruit   of   life   lift   bloom   all   sere   and   pale. 
Certain,   small   comfort   bides,   when   joy   is   gone, 
In  Great  or  Less.     Grim  Sorrow  waits  to  lead  thee  on. 
Sorrow !     Thou   hast   not   seen   her   pallid   face. 
In   thy   most   troubled   dream   she   had   no   place  " — 
"  Nay,    I    depart,"   she    said,   with  lips   grown  chill. 
"  Fearless   and   free,   exiled,   but   princess   still." 
"  I   may   not   hinder   thee,"    the   Angel   sighed ; 
"No   soul  unwilling  here   may   ever   bide." 
Slow  swung   the   verdant    gates   neath   saddest   eyes. 
Lilith  forever  lost  fair  Paradise. 


BOOK    II 


BOOK   II. 

SOFT   stealing   through   the   shade,   and   skirting 
swift 

The  walls   of   Paradise,  through   night's  dark  rift 
Lilith   fled   f  ar ;   nor   stopped  lest   deadly  snare 
Or   peril  by   the   wayside    lurked. 

The   air 
Grew  chill.     Loud    beat    her   heart,    as    through    the 

wind 
Echoed,   unseen,    pursuing  feet,  behind. 

Adown   the   pathway   of  the   mist  she   passed, 
And   reached   a  weird,   strange   land   at   last. 
When   morning  flecked   the  dappled   sky  with  red, 
And   odors   sweet  from  waking  flowers  were   shed, 
Lilith   beheld   a  plain,   outstretching  wide, 
With  distant  mountains  seamed. 

Afar,  a  silvery  tide 

The    blue    shore   kissed.      And    in   that    tropic   glow 
Dim   islands   shone,  palm-fringed,    and   low. 
In   nearer   space,   like    scarlet     arrows   flew 
Strange   birds,  or  'mong  the   reedy  fens,    or  through 

25 


26  LILITH. 

Tall   trees,   of  unknown   leafage,   glancing,   went. 
Now    Lilith    seaward    passed,    and    stooping,    bent 
Her   hollowed   hand    above    the   wave,    and    quaffed; 
For    she    was    spent    with   wanderings    wide.      Loud 

laughed 

She   then,   beholding   on   that   silent   shore 
Rare   shells,  that   still   faint   in   their  pink    lips   bore 
Wild   ocean-songs;    and   precious   stones,  that   bright 
That   dim   sea's   marge,  deep   in   the  land  of   night 
Thick  strewed. 

Then  glad,   she   lifted   shining  eyes, 
Loud   crying  there,    "  O   Lilith,    now   arise, 
Great   queen-triumphant !    See   how  wildly  fair 
Before   me   lies   my   realm !    And   from   its   air 
Soft,    sensuous,  new   life    as   ruddy  wine, 
My  spirit  drinks.     Nor  beauty  so  divine 
Hath   Eden's   self.     Look,   where   upon   the   sands 
The   garish   mosses   spread   with   dainty   hands, 
Like   goblin    network   fine,    each   fairy   frond. 
And   dusky  trees   shut   in  broad   fields   beyond, 
And    hang   long  trembling  garlands,   age-grown-gray, 
From   topmost   boughs   adown,   athwart   the    day; 
And   sweet   amid  these  wilds,  bright  dewy  bells 
Ring    summer   chimes.      And   soft   in   fragrant   dells, 
'Mong  tender   leaves,  great   spikes   of    scarlet  flaunt 
About   the   pools — the   errant  wild  bees'   haunt  — 
And  thick   with   bramble-blooms   pink   petals  starred, 
And    dew-stained    buds    of    blue,    the   velvet    sward. 


LILITH.  27 

Scarce   ripple   stirred   the   sea ;    and   inland   wend 

Far  bays   and  sedgy  ponds ;  and  rolling  rivers  bend. 

A  land   of  leaf   and   fruitage    in   the   glow 

Of  palest   glamours   steeped.     And   far   and   low 

Great   purple   isles;    and   further   still   a   rim 

Of  sunset-tinted   hills,   that   softly   dim 

Shine  'gainst  the   day.     "  O  world,  new  found,"  she 

said, 
"With     treasures     heaped     and    odors    rare,    'mong 

flowers   shed, 

For  whose   dear   sake   I   came   o'er  flinty  ways, 
And     paths    with    danger    fraught;    'mong    brambly 

sprays, 
With    bleeding    feet,     and    shoulders     thorn-pierced 

deep. 

But  perils  past,   fade   fast.     And   I  will   weep 
My  Eden   lost   no   more."     And   sweet   and  low 
As   one   who   dreams,  she   said,     "  For  now   I   know 
These    mountain    heights,    these     level    plains,    are 

mine." 

She  ceased,  and  inland  quickly  turned.  "  Fair  shine 
Strange  fruits  thick-set,  or  blossoms  lightly  tossed 
Low  at  my  feet."  Therewith,  a  dusk  globe,  crossed 
With  golden  bands,  from  bent  boughs,  stripped  she. 

Through 

The   gleaming  sphere   its   nectrous  juices   drew, 
And  thirsting  cried  —  as  one  grown  drunken  :  "  Mine 
These   fruits   unknown,   in   thorny  combs   that   shine, 


28  LILITH. 

Or  gray-green   spikes  that  glow,   dull  on   the   sands. 
Fain   would   I   pluck,    out-reaching   eager  hands, 
Save   that   a  marvel  grows   of  ruddier   rind 
Out-flinging   fruity   breath   upon   the   wind, 
Beneath   harsh   spines   half-hid.     Nor   drains 
My  wilful   spouse  such   nectars   fine.     Nor  gains 
His   patient  care   the   fruitage    rare,   these   plains 
That  heaps  unheeded.     Nay,   nor  bearded  grains 
Golding  this   goodly   land,  where   Lilith   reigns." 

So  passed  the  glad  years  on-,   and   o'er  her  home  — 
Its    woods    and    mountains,     its    clear    streams  —  to 

roam, 

She   loved.     The   inmost   throb   of   Nature's   heart 
She   felt   amid   the   grass.     Each   daintiest   part 
Of  Nature's   work   she   knew ;   each  gain,   each   loss. 
And   reverent   watched   on   high   the   starry   cross 
Gleaming,   mute   symbol   in   that   southern   dome 
Of   One  —  the   Promised   One  —  of  days   to   come. 

The   rifted   sea-shell   on   the   shingly   beach 
She   scanned,   pitying  each   inmate   gone.     Each 
Named.     'Mong   beetling  crags,  the   sea-bird's   home, 
Light-footed,  went.     Or,  idly,   in   the   foam 
Under   the   cocoa-palms,   her  fingers   dipped, 
Much  marveling  to   see   where   featly  slipped 
Beneath   the  waves   scaled   creatures,  crimson-dyed 
Or  luminous:    Barred-yellow,   purple   pied, 


LILITH.  29 

Rose-tinted,   opaline,  or   dight   with   stain, 

Rich   as  the  rainbow  streaks,  when   through   the  rain 

The    Sun's    kiss    falls.     Much    wondered    she   when 

bright 

By  sedgy   pools,  flamingoes   stalked.     And    light 
The   startled   ostrich   bent  his   headlong   flight 
O'er   desert  bare.     And   on   the   woody   height 
Trooped    zebras,    velvet-brown.       The     date's    green 

crest 

Beneath,  the   peaceful   camels   lay   at   rest. 
And   slender-straight   camelopards  the   boughs 
Down-drew,  the   lush-green  leaves   thereon   to  browse. 

Or   oft  'mong   oozy  bogs,    or   through   the   fens, 
Fearless  she   went,  when   low,  'mong    reedy   dens 
The   water-courses   by,   huge   creatures  slept, 
Or   in   the   jungles   spotted   panthers   crept, 
And   in   the   thickets   deadly   serpents   wound 
Like  blossomed  wreaths,  their  coils  upon  the  ground. 

All  forms  of   life   she   saw;  with   tenderest   care 
Uplifting   humblest   sprays,    or   blooms   most   rare. 
Pierced   the   deep   heart  of   Nature's  subtlest  lore, 
Touched  highest  knowledge,  probed   the  inmost  core 
Of   hidden   things.    She    tracked   each   circling  world 
And   the   wide  sweep   of   billows   lightly  curled. 
Each   page   the    Master  writ   she   read,     close   furled 
In  lotus  blooms,  or,  'mong  the  storm-clouds  whirled; 
Or  traced,   star-lettered,  on   the   flaming   scroll 
The   night  unwinds   toward   the   southern   pole. 


30  LILITH. 

And   sometimes   wiling   idle   days,  she   wove 

In   quaint   device,   gems   from   her  treasure-trove, 

Rare   garlanded,   or   set   in   flashing  zone 

Soft  emerald,   sapphire   pale,    and   many   a   stone 

Out-gleaming   amethyst.     Her  yellow  hair 

Among,  the   glinting   diamonds   shone.     And   there 

The   sultry   topaz   burned.     And   laughing,   twined 

She  round   her  bare  white  throat  red   rubies   shrined 

In   pearls. 

Or  she   among   the   haunts   would   rove 
That   sheltered   island   birds;  or   in    the   grove, 
Or   'mong   the    rocky   cliffs,   where   dainty   nests 
They    fashioned     swift.     She     scaled     the    seaward 

crests, 

And   on   the   sands   piled   turtle   eggs,  when   all 
About  hoarse-shrieked   the   water-fowl;    or   call 
Of  plovers  fell    among  the   tangled  glens, 
Or  lonely   bitterns'   boom   came   o'er   the   fens. 

So   traversed  she   her  realm,  when   mangoes  green 
Baobabs   by,    showed   freshest  hues;    and   sheen 
Of  silver  touched   acacias   slight;    and   lone 
The   solitary   aloes,  dreamed.     The   moan 
Of  that  far   sea   against   the   shore   brake   soft. 
And   through   that   blossom-burdened   land   as   oft 
She   roamed   and   far,  sweet   sped   the   passing  days. 
Till   one   dawned  fairest,    in   whose   noon-tide   haze 
Sweet  slumbering  she  lay-,   and  dreamed-steeped  still, 
Half   conscious,   caught   the   tinkle   of   a   rill 


LI  LIT H.  31 

In  far-off   Paradise.     More   silver   clear 
Across  her  thoughts,  as   once   she   loved   to   hear, 
Rippled   the   waters,   low   against   the   stones 
Where    poised    gemmed    dragon-flies ;      and    sudden 

moans 

Shook   'mong  blue   flags.    Waked,  vague   unrest 
And   tender  yearning   rose   within   her  breast, 
And   longing   love,   that   she   ne'er   more   might   still. 
When   late   upon   her   parting   day   smiled   chill, 
Pensive   she   gazed   upon   the   darkling  land, 
With   lingering   feet    o'er-passed    the    shining    strand, 
And   silent   sat   on   an   o'erhanging   ledge, 
The   sea  o'erlooking.     Far  the   horizon's  edge 
Athwart   her  gaze   a   rim   of   blue   hills   cleft, 
Whereat   she   sighed.    "So   rose,  ere   I   them   left, 
So  smiled,   the   dim   hills  round   my   Eden   home. 
But   I  —  wherefore   recall,   when  far   I   roam, 
Dreams  vanished  —  gone  ?    And  now  since  long  time 

dead 

Is   that   fair    past,    I    fain    would   lay  it    low 
Where   soft   about   it  memories   sweet   may   blow 
As   summer  winds  the   fallen   leaves   among." 
Then  passed  her  tender  thoughts,  and  loud  and  glad 
As  our  morn  wakens,  strong  that  yesternight  slept  sad, 
She   sang.     The   song  triumphant   upward   swelled, 
Unsorrpwed   by   soft    dreams    or   thoughts   of    eld — • 
As  fresh   the   full,   free,   mellow   notes   did   rise 
AS   the   blithe   skylark's   strain,    anear   the   skies: 


32  LILITH. 

High,    high,    bold    Eagle,  soar; 

I    watch   thy  flight,    above    thy   cragged    rock. 
Below   thee,    torrents   roar, 

Down-bursting   wild   with    angry   shock 

Upon    the   vales.     O  proud   bird,    free, 
My   spirit,    mounting,    follows   thee, 
Still   follows   thee,   still   follows   thee. 

0  Sea  —  O   Sea   so   wide! 

Far   roll  thy  waves   ere  yet    they   find   thy  shore. 

1  "hear   thy   sullen   tide    . 

Break  'neath    the    beetling    cliffs   with    muffled    roar. 
Afar,    afar,    O   moaning   Sea, 
My   roving   soul   still   follows   thee, 
Still   follows   thee,   still   follows   thee. 

O   Whirlwind   black  —  O    strong! 
Thy  scorching  breath  fierce  burns  the  crouching  land 

And    thou    dost   sweep   along 
The   raveled   clouds.     O   Whirlwind,    see  — 

My   spirit   rising,   follows   thee, 

Still   follows   thee,   still   follows  thes. 

Nay,    nay!    My   dauntless   soul, 
Still    higher   than   thy   wing,    O    Eagle,  soars, 

And   wider   still   than    roll 
Thy   waves,    and   further   than   thy   shores, 

My   spirit   flees  —  O    Sea— O   Sea 

No   more   it   follows,   follows   thee. 

Whirlwind,    more    strong   than   thou 
My   soul,   that   fearless  leaps   to   thine   embrace 

And    thy   stern,    wrinkled    brow 
Ooth   tender   touch    and    soothingly, 

And   vassal    art    thou    still    to   me, 

That   no   more,  Whirlwind,   follows   thee. 


LILITH.  33 

Swift  changed  her  mood,  and  darkened   in   her  face. 

As   sometimes   in   an   open,    sunny   place 

The   sudden    dusks   o'er   crinkling   waters   run, 

So  fell   her  thoughts   to   music.     And   as   one 

That    grieves,    she    sang.      That    lay  —  soft,    weirdly 

clear, 
The  babbling  waves  made  murmurous  pause  to  hear  : 


Fair  land  (  she  sang ),  O  sun-steeped  realm  of   mine, 
The    Sun,    thy   lover,   hath   his   farewell   kiss. 

I    only   pine 

While   dim   stars   shine. 


Strong   is  thy   Day-god !    yet  his   parting  kiss 
Falls  soft  upon   thy  faltering   lips.     O   land, 

Thou   hast   a   bliss 

I   ever   miss. 


Fast  comes   the   night,  and  warm,  for  thy  dear   sake, 
The   shadows   curtain   dusk,   thy   lonely   rest. 

I   only   wake 

My   plaint   to   make. 

Fair   land,    my   lover   cold,    doth   careless   take 
From  my  shut   lips  his  flight.     Here   leaves   me  lone 

My  moan    to   make, 

My   heart   to   break. 

She  ceased.     But   still   the  song  did   float   and  fade, 
As   failing   sunshine    soft,    in   woodland   glade. 
And    Lilith,    listening,    heard  —  so   wild,    so   shrill, 
Yet   dream-like,   far,   again    that   tinkling   rill 


34  LILITH. 

In   Paradise.     And  o'er  her  spirit  swept 

A   sadness   bitter-sweet,   as   'neath   the   green    palms 

crept 

The  wind,    low-sighing,   faint.     As  from   lone    nest 
A   bird   torn   pinion   lifts,    striving  to   soar 
To   shelter   safe,    so,    Edenward   once   more 
Turned   Lilith's   drooping  thoughts. 

Uprose   she   then, 
And   brooding,   homeward   slowly  went   again. 


BOOK    III. 


BOOK    III. 

WIDE  through  her  realm  she  walked,  and  glad 
or  lorn 

She   mused.     So,   loitering,    it   chanced   one   morn 
When   lone   she    sat   upon   a   mountain   height, 
One  sudden  stood    anear,  whose  dark  eyes   bright 
Upon   her   shone.     Pallid   his   face,    and   red 
His   smileless   lips.    "Who  art   thou?"    Lilith  said, 
And  faint   a  hidden   pain   her  hot   heart   stirred, 
When  low,  and  rarely  sweet,  his  voice   she  heard. 
She  looked,  half-pleased  —  and  half  in  strange  surprise 
Shrank   'neath   the   gaze   of   those   wild,  starry   eyes. 
"Oh,  dame,"  the   stranger   said,  "where   waters  leap 
Bright  glancing   down,    I   rested   oft,   where   steep 
Thy   Eden   o'er,    bare-browed,  a   peak  uprose. 
Naught  craving  bloom   or  fruitage  —  nay,    nor  those 
Frail   joys   Adam   holds   dear.     One   only   boon 
I  sought  of   all   his   heritage.     Fair  'neath  the   moon 
I   saw   thee   stand ;    and   all   about   thy  feet 
The  night  her  perfume  spilled,  soft  incense  meet. 
Then   low    I    sighed,  when   grew    thy  beauty   on   my 

sight, 

'  Some    comfort   yet   remains,    if   that   I   might 

37 


38  LILITH. 

From  Adam  pluck  this  perfect  flower.    Some  morn  — 
If  I  (some   dreamed-of  morn,  perchance  slow-born) 
This  flawless  bloom,  white,  fragrant,  lustrous,  pure 
For  ever  on   my  breast   might   hold   secure.' 
Yea,  for  thy  love,  through   darkling   realms  of   night 
I   followed   thee,   sharing   thy  fearful   flight 
Unseen.     Lo,   when   thy  timid  heart,  behind 
Heard   echoing   phantom   feet   upon   the   wind, 
'Twas   I,   pursuing  o'er  the   day's   last  brink ; 
Wherefore,  I   now  am   here.     O   Lilith,  think 
How   over-much   I   love   thee,    and   how  sweet 
Were   life   with    thee  !    O   weary   naked   feet, 
With  me  each  onward  path  wilt   thou   not  tread? 
Or,   if   thou   endest   here   thy   quest,"   he   said, 
"Let   me   too  bide   with   thee." 

Made   answer  low 

Lilith   thereto :   "  Meseems   not   long   ago 
One   stood   at   Eden's  gate   like   thee.     But   thy  face 
Is   darker,   red   thy   lips.     Of   kingly   race 
I  know  thee.    Say,  whence  comest  thou,  O  prince  ? " 
"  Nay,   then,"   he   sighed,  "  an   outcast   I,  long   since 
From    Heaven    thrust   out;     yet    now,   the    curse    is 

past, 

Nor  mourn   I   Heaven   lost,    if   at   the   last 
Thy   love    I  win.    Yea,  where    thou    art,    I    know 
Is    Heaven.     And    bliss,    in    sooth "    (oh,    soft    and 

low, 
He   said),    "lives   ever   in   thy   smile." 


LILITH.  39 

His   speech 

Thus   ended.     And   toward   the   sandy   beach 
He    passed.      Though    long    her    eyes    the    stranger 

sought 
Where  curved  the  distant  shore,  she   saw  him  not. 

Soft   through  the  trees  the  mottled  shadows  dropped 
When   Lilith   in   her   pleasance   sat.     Half-propped 
'Gainst   mossy   trunk   her   slender   length.     Her  hair 
In   sunny  web,   enmeshed   her    elbows   bare. 
Slowly  the   breeze   swayed   the   mimosas   slight 
As   Eblis   pushed   aside   the   bent   boughs   light. 
"O   dame,"  he    said,    "it   seemeth   surely  meet 
Earth's   richest   gifts   to   lay   at   Lilith's   feet; 
Therefore    I   said   'unto   the   fairest   one, 
Things   loveliest   beneath   the   shining   sun 
I  bring.'     Since    of    all  crafts    in    this   young    earth 
I   am   true   master,    unto   her  whose   worth 
So  much   deserves,    I   bear   this   marble    sphere, 
Whose  hollowed   husk,  well  polished,  gleaming  clear, 
Hides  rarest  fruit."    Therewith  the  globe  he  showed, 
The  half  whereof  smooth-sparkling  was :  Half  glowed 
With  carven  work ;   embossed  with   pale   leaves  light, 
And   delicately  sculptured   birds    in    flight, 
And   clustered   flowers   frail.     Lilith   drew   near 
With   beaming  eyes,  and   laid   the   graven   sphere 
Against  her   smiling   lips ;    o'ertraced   the   vine 
That   circled   it  with   fingers   slim.     "  Mine,   mine 


40  LILITH. 

Is   it,    O   prince  ?  "  she   cried.    "  I   know   not   why 
Its   beauty   doth   recall   the   winds'   long   sigh 
That   surged   among   the  palms.      Methinks   is   dead 
Some   summer-tide,   that   in   its   own   sweet   stead 
Hath   left   upon   the  stone   its   imaging." 
Eblis   replied :     "  On    earth,    is   anything 
More   fair?    If   such   thou   knowest,    Lilith,   speak. 
That    I,  for   thee,  surely  would   straightway   seek. 
Say,   if  indeed   thou  findest   anywhere, 
On   land   or   sea,   created   things   so   rare  ? " 
And   Lilith   answered,    " '  On   this   earth   so   round, 
Naught   else   so   lovely   anywhere   I   found. 
So   shames   it   meaner  work — so  had   I   said  — 
But   see  yon  nodding  palm   that   droops   its  head 
Low   sighing   o'er   the  wave.     Bring  me    a   bough 
So  feathery-fine.     Turn   thy   white  sphere !    Now 
On   its   cold,   fair   surface,    Eblis,   canst   thou 
Such   branches   carve,   or   tender  fronds,   that  we 
Bright   waving   on   the   cocoa,    these   may   see  ? " 
And   Eblis  wrought   till   grew   upon  the   stone 
Such   airy   boughs   as   on   the  cocoa   shone. 
Then      Lilith     cried :     "  Skilled     craftsman,     proven 

thou! 

Didst   thou,  then,  make    my  cocoa-tree  ?     Thy  bough 
Pale   graven   give  the   grace   of   its  green   crown 
When   through   it   night   winds   gently   slip    adown. 
No   charm   of   color,    nor   of   change,   nor  glow 
Of   blue    noon    sky,  thy   carven   work   doth    show ; 


LILITH.  41 

Let   dusk  bees  visit   it  —  or   sip   the   breath 
From   thy   chill   marble   buds."     Then,  Lilith   saith, 
"  Eblis   hath   wroughten   noblest   on   this   earth." 
He   answered   quick,    "Poor   bauble,   little   worth 
To   Lilith !    Ope    thy   slighted   husk,   reveal 
The   miracle    thy   rough   rind   doth  conceal ! " 

He   touched   a  hidden   spring,    and   wide    apart 
The   riven   sphere   showed   its   white   hollow  heart, 
And   in   the   midst   a  gem;    the   which   he   laid 
Wkhin   her   hand.    "Behold,"    he    said,    "I   made 
Most  fair  for   thee   this   lustrous   blood-red   sard, 
And   deftly   traced   its   gleaming   surface   hard 
With   carvings   thick   of   bright   acacias  slim, 
Pomegranates   lush   and   river-reeds.     Its   rim 
A  spray   of   leaves   enchased,   white    as   with   rime 
Night  fallen.     '  Slow   drags   the   lagging  time,' 
I   said,   'till   one   day  shines  upon   the  breast 
Of   her,   whose   perfect   beauty  worthiest 
It   decks,  this  gem.'   The   token,  Lilith,   take  ; 
If  lovelier   there   be,   for  Eblis'   sake 
Keep   silent;    yet   with   me,  oh   Lilith,  go 
Awhile   from   thine    own   land.     Then   shall    I   know 
The   gem  finds  favor  in   thine   eyes.'  " 

Then   she 

Turned  from  her  pleasance  and  all  silently 
Passed  to  the  sea,  across  the  yellow  strand 
That,  glimmering,  ringed  her  shadowy  land. 


42  LILITH. 

"Oh   cool,"   he   said,    "the   lucent  waves   that  fret 
The  barren  shore,  and  curl  their  scattered  spray  wet 
'Gainst  thy  hand.     Come  !    my  longing  pinnace  waits 
To   bear   thee   far.     Her   slender   keel   now  grates 
Upon   the   beach ;    and   swift   her   shapely   prow 
Will   skim   the   deep,    as   swallows'  fleet  wing.    Thou 
Seest!    comely   and   strong   it   is.    For  thee 
Its  golden   sails,    its   purple   canopy. 
With   skin   of   spotted   pard,    I   cushioned   it. 
Ere   the   fresh   breeze   doth   die,   light   let   us  flit 
Across   the    sea.     No   craft   so   proud,  so   staunch, 
Goes   glancing   through   the   foam.      I   safely  launch 
Her   now,    and   speed   to   fairy   isles.     Come  thou 
With   me."      And    glad    she    crossed   the    burnished 

prow  ; 
And   'mong   the   thick    furred    rugs  sat   down.    "  Oh 

craft, 

Fair  fashioned,  lightly  built,  speed  far,"  she  laughed ; 
"To   other   lands   bear   Lilith   safe." 

As  sailed 

They   idly   on,   her   slender  hand   she   trailed 
Among   the   waves,  and   sudden   cried,    "  Indeed, 
A   craft   stauncher   than  thine  floats  by.     What  need 
Hath   it   of   helm,    or   prow,    or   silken   sail, 
Sure   harbor  finding   when   the   ocean   gale 
Fast   drives   it   onward?"     A   nut   she    drew,   round, 
Rough,  coarse-husked,   forth   from   the   wave.  "Lo,  I 

found," 


LILITH.  43 

She   said,    "this   boat  well   built.     The   cocoa-tree 

Cast   it   amid   the   foam.     Its   pilot  free, 

The   summer   wind;   its   port,  the   misty  shore 

Of   ocean   isles.     It  fades  from   sight.     '  No  more,' 

We   say,  '  it   sails   the   wild   uncertain   main , ' 

But   when   the   drifting   days   are   gone,    again 

We   turn   our   prow,    and   reach   the   barren   isles 

Where,    stranded   as  we  went,  the    nut.     Now  smiles 

Above;  a  bending  tree.     Aloud   we   cry, 

*  A   miracle    is   wrought ! '  We   draw   anigh. 

Behold,   the   cocoa,    towering,    doth   spring 

Forth  from   the   brown   nut's   heart.     About   it   cling 

Sweet   odors   faint;  and   far  stars   trembling   peep. 

When   through  its  bowers  cool  the   breezes   creep. 

Strong,   indeed,    thy   boat,   well   builded !    I    wis 

There   be   yet   other   craft   as   firm,    Eblis, 

That   o'er   these   trackless   waters   boldly   glide. 

Brave   Nautilus   afar,   doth   fearless   ride, 

With   sails   of  gossamer.     So,   too,    doth   spread, 

To   summer   airs,   his   silken   gleaming   thread, 

The   water-spider   fleet,   free   sailor  true 

That   in   the   sunshine   floats,   beneath   the   blue, 

Glad  skies.     And  through  the  deep,  all  sparkling,  slip 

A   thousand   insect-swarms,   that,    rippling,    dip 

Amid   the   merry  waves.     Bright   voyagers 

That   roam   the   sultry  seas!     Look,  the  wind   stirs 

Our  creaking   sails !     Thy   pinnace   flying   o'er 

The   ocean's   swell,  fast   leaves   the  fadirfg  shore; 


44  LILITH. 

Yet  faster  still   the   Nautilus   sails   by, 
And   darts   the   spider   quick.     And   swifter  fly 
The   insect-fleets   among   the   foam;    yet   think 
Not   when   among  the   billows   wild   doth   sink 
Thy  bounding   boat,  I   fear.     Nor  would   I   slight 
Thy  skill,  that  made   it   strong,  and  swift,  and   light, 
And   trimmed   it  gayly,   for  my   sake." 

Now   near 

A  jutting   shore   Prince    Eblis  drew,  where  sheer 
The   brown   rocks   rose.     And  just  beyond,   a   slim 
Beach   of  white  sand  curved   to   the  ocean's  brim. 
Thereto  he   came,  and   high   upon   the   strand 
Drew    the    boat's    keel.     "Welcome,    fair    queen,    to 

land 

That   Eblis   rules,"  he  said.     "I   fain   would  show 
Thee  what   thou   hast  not  seen   in   the  warm   glow 
Of   thy  glad   home.     This   blighted   shore    of   mine 
No   verdure    hath,    nor   bloom,    nor   fruits   that   shine 
'Mong    drooping    boughs.      Far    inland    gloom    lone 

peaks 
O'er  blackened   meads;  or  from   their  bare   cones 

leaps 

Gaunt,  crackling  flame;  or  crawl  like  ashen  veins 
The   smouldering  fires  across   the   stricken   plains. 
Deep   in   these   yawning  caves   black   shadows   lie 
That   shall   be   lifted   never   more.     Come,    I 
Enter!     Know   thou   what  treasure    by  the   sea 
I   gathered   other  time."     Therewith   showed   he 


LILITH.  45 

Hid  'mong   the   high  heaped   rocks   a   dusky   grot 
Where   never   sunshine   fell.     A   dismal   spot 
Where  dank   the   sea-weeds   coiled   and   cold   the   air 
Swept  through.    And  stooping,  Eblis  downward  rolled 
Before   her   webs   of   woven   stuff,    in   fold 
Of   purple    sheen,  enwrought   with   flecks   of  gold. 
Great  wefts   of  scarlet   and   of   blue,   thick   strewn 
With  pearls,  or   cleft  with   discs   of  jacinth   stone  ; 
And   drifts   of   silky   woof    and   samite    white, 
And   warps   of    Orient   hues.     Eblis    light 
Wound    round    her  neck  a   scarf   of   amber.     Wide 
Its  smooth  folds  sweeping  flowed ;  and  proud  he  cried, 
"Among   these   hills,    in    the    still   loom   of   night, 
I   wrought   for   Lilith's   pleasing,    all.     And   bright 
Have  spun   these  webs,  in  blended   morning  hues 
And   noontide   shades   and   trail   of   silver   dews  — 
Hereon   have   set   fair  traceries   of   cloud-shine 
And   tints   of   the   far   vales.     The   textures   fine 
Glow  with  sweet   thoughts  of  thee.     And   otherwhere 
Hast   thou   such  fabrics   seen,   or  colors   rare 
As   these?"    Dawned   in   her  eyes  a   swift   delight, 
And   low   she   cried,    "Oh,  wondrous  is   the   sight, 
And   much   it   pleaseth   me.    But  yet,"   she   said, 
"Beside   my   knee    one    morn,  its   hooded   head 
A   Hage   reared.     Its   gliding   shape    so   near 
To   subtler   music   moved,    than   my   dull   ear 
Could   catch.     Its   velvet   skin    I   gently   strake, 
Watching   the    light  that  o'er  its  heaped  coils  brake 


46  LILITH. 

In  glittering  waves.     Within   its   small,  wise   glance, 

Flame   silent   slept,    or   quick   in   baleful   dance 

Before   my   startled   gaze    quivering   did  wake. 

Fair  is   thy   woof,   soft  woven,   yet   the   snake 

Out-dazzles   it.     The   beetle   that   doth   boom 

Its  dull  life   out   among   the   tangled   gloom, 

Lift   his  wide   wing   above   thy  weft,   or  trail 

His   splendor   there,    and   thy   poor  web   will   pale ; 

Yea,   the   red   wayside   lily  that   doth   snare 

The  girdled  bee,   is   softer   still,   more   fair 

Than   finest  woven   cloth."     But   tenderly 

She   smoothed   the  gleaming  folds.    "  Much   pleaseth 

me, 

Natlhess,"  she  said,  "  such  loveliness."   Then  brought 
He   tapestries   of   fleeces   fine,  well   wrought 
In   colors   soft   as   woodland   mosses'  tinge, 
Or  glow   of   autumn   blooms:    Heavy   with   fringe 
Of  downward   sweeping  gold ;    arras,  where   through 
Showed   mottled  stripes,   or  arabesques   of  blue, 
Broad   zones   of   red,    and   tender  grays,    and   hue 
Of  dropping  leaves.     "Lilith,"  he  said,  "when  rolled 
The   storm-tossed  billows  round   these   caves,  behold 
I   spun   these   daintily.     'Twere   hard   to   find 
Such   twisted   weft   or  woven   strand."     "Oh,  kind," 
She   said,    "is   Eblis,   unto  whom   I   fain 
Would   give    due    thanks.     His   gorgeous   train 
But   yesterday  I   saw   the   peacock   spread ; 
Bright  in   the   sun  gleamed   his   small    crested   head; 


LILITH.  47 

His   haughty   neck   wrinkled   to   green    and  blue, 

And   since    I    needs   must   truly   speak,    I    knew 

Not   color  rich   as   his  :    and   I   have  seen 

The   curious   nest   among   the  branches   green, 

The   busy  weaver-bird   plaits   of  thick  leaves, 

And  in   and   out  its   pliant  meshes  weaves  ; 

And   since    thou    sayest   'twere   hard    to    match    thy 

fine, 

Strong,    woven   fabrics,   watch   the  weaver   twine 
His  cunning  wefts.     Though  still,"  she    said,   "think 

not 

I    scorn   thy   gifts,    Prince    Eblis;    for   I   wot 
Their  worth    is   greater   than   my  tongue    can   say." 
Then   Eblis   deeper  in   the   cave  led  her   a  little 

way, 

And   showed   a   stately   screen   of   such  fine   art 
One   almost  felt   the    breeze   that   seemed   to   part 
The   pictured   boughs.     And   o'er  the  stirless  lake 
Dreamed   the   swift,   wimpling  waters    sudden   brake 
Among  the   willows   on   its   brink  —  and   flowers 
Of  scarlet,   shining-clean  from   summer   showers; 
And   Eblis   said,  "  Cold  praise   a  friend  should  spare 
This   picture   true.      Certain   naught   else  will   dare 
Vie   with   such   beauty." 

Archly  Lilith   took 

The   rose   from    her   bright   hair,  and   lightly   shook 
The   dewdrop   from   its   heart.    "  I    loving,   touch," 
She   said,   "these   petals    smooth.     O,    Eblis,  such 


48  LILITH. 

Give   to   thy   painted   blooms;    give   its   cool   sheen 

Of  morningtide,   the   mossy,   lush   leaves  green 

That   fold   it  round.     Give  its  faint,  fragrant  breath, 

When   with   the   fickle   breeze   it   dallieth. 

Nay,   fairer   still   my   rose   than  gilded    screen, 

Though   it   be    limned   with   perfect   art,    I   ween." 

Thereat   smiled   Eblis   bitterly.    "I   bring 

One   parting  gift,"    he    said,    "  a   dainty   thing ; 

Perchance   in   other  time   it  will  recall 

One   who  strove   long   and   patiently   through   all 

These  days   to  win   thy   praise."     An  oval  plane 

Of  crystal  gave   he   her;    of   fleck  or   stain 

Clear-gleaming.     Of   ivory   carven   fine 

The   frame.     And  when   she  looked,  "Divine," 

He  laughed,    "  the  beauty  it  enshrines.      Canst  claim 

Aught   else   is   fairer?"     And  Lilith  again 

Gazed   in   the   glass,   her  face   beholding   there, 

Her  pink  flushed   cheeks,  her  yellow  streaming  hair. 

Quick  came  her  breath.    "  O  prince,"  she  slowly  said, 

"  Fair  is   the   stranger.     Bid   those   lips   so   red 

Speak   once   to   Lilith.     For  methinks   the   voice 

Of   such   in   music   flowed.     Let   me   rejoice 

Therein."     "  O   glorious   counterfeit !  "   cried 

He.     "Lovelier  is   not   on   this   earth   wide! 

Behold,   sweet   Lilith,  'tis   thine   own   pure   face 

That   lends   my   happy   mirror   perfect   grace 

It   else   had   not.     Bid    thou   thine   image   speak ! 

No   other  happiness    I   elsewhere   seek, 


LILITH.  49 

If   the   soft   tale   she   whispers   be   of   ma" 
And   Lilith   answered   gravely,  "  I   know   thee, 
Eblis.     Master   indeed   of   all   crafts   thou  — 
Red    Sard,   and   marble    sphere,    and   agile   prow 
Of  pinnace   light   well   wroughten   were   by   thee 
And   decked  full   fair.     And,   beauteous   to   see, 
Fine   woven  weft   and   web,    and   the   tall   screen 
O'errun  with  painted   bloom,   crystal,  with   gleam 
Of   Lilith's   face  —  thou   madest   these.     Mayhap 
Beetle    and    asp  likewise   didst   tint  —  didst   wrap 
The   green   about   my   rose,    and    richly   fringe 
My   cocoa-tree,   or  peacock's  train   didst   tinge 
With  dazzling  hues.     Methought  thou  wert  a  prince, 
But   now   Lilith    should   humbly   kneel,    since 
Thou   art   far   higher   than   she    deemed,  if   thou 
Madest   these   wondrous   things."    And   lowly   now 
As   she   would   kneel,   she    drew    anigh.     But   he 
Cried,  shrinking,  "  Nay,  I  made  them  not."  And  she 
Low  questioned,  "  Eblis,   tell  me  who  then,  did  make 
Them   all.     Who   set   the   creeping   hooded   snake 
And   stealthy   pard  within   the    thorny   brake, 
And   spread   the    sea,  and  wreathed   the   waterfall 
With    foam?     Who    reared    the    hoar   hills,    towering 

tall 

Above  the  lands  ? "     With  eyes  wild  flashing,  low 
He   groaned :    "  O    Lilith,    ask   me    not.     My   foe 
He   was  —  he    is.     Trembles   with   wrath   my   frame 
If   I  but   faintly   breathe   his   awful   name." 


50  LILITH. 

Lilith   replied,    "  Meseemeth,   master   true 
Of  every   craft   is   He." 

Forth   the   two 

From  that  drear  cavern  passed.     Ere  the  water's  brim 
They  gained,  he  plucked  the  wilding  reeds,  that  slim 
Stood  by  a  brook.     "  My  pipe  I  make,  one  strain 
Harmonious  to   wake.     Nor  yet   again 
Shalt  thou   such  fresh   notes   hear.     Music  like  mine 
Methinks  thou   hast   not   known   in    any   time." 
He   laid   his   pipe   unto   his  lips,  and    blew 
A   blast,  wild,  piercing,  sweet.     The  far  hills  through 
It   rung.     And   softer  fell,  yet    wild   and   clear. 
It  ceased.     With  drooping  eyes,  "  Once   I   did   hear 
A  song   as   wildly  clear,   as  sad,"  she  said, 
"In    mine    own    realm."     And   as    she    spoke,   dark 

dread 

The   sky  grew  with   a   coming  storm.     "Oh,  haste," 
He   cried ;    "  seek   refuge  ere    this   dreary  waste 
Reeks   with   the   rain ! "     And   fast   they   sped 
Back  to  his  ocean-cave.     There  safe,   o'erhead 
They  watched  the  piling  clouds.     With  angry  roar 
The  baffled  billows   broke  upon  the    rocks.     O'er 
Them  rushed  the  shrieking  storm.    Wild  through  the 

grot 
Wandered   the   prisoned  wind,  a  troubled   ghost  that 

sought 

Repose.     Or   low   did   moan,  and   trembling,  wail, 
Like   some   sore-hearted   thing   that   hideth,   pale, 


LILITH.  51 

And   dare   not  front   the   day ;    and  wilder   still, 

In   chords   melodious,   swelled   or   sank,   until 

She  sighed,  "Oh,   this  weird   harp  among   the  caves, 

Strange  players  hath !     For   loud   as  one   that   raves, 

It   rises.     Now   more   sweetly   fade    away 

Its  mellow  notes  than  thy  thin   pipes."     "  One  day," 

He  said,  "mayhap  my  strain  may  please,  when  wind 

Doth   not   outpipe    my   slighted   reeds.     Unkind 

Thou    art."     "  The  storm  is  past ;    to  mine  own  land 

I    would    return,"    she    said.      And    Eblis    o'er    the 

strand 

Led   her.     And    homeward    silent   turned   his   prow 
That    swiftly   through    the    swirling   waves    did    plow. 

But   when   they   parted,   Eblis   mused,    "  I   know 
No   gift   soever   winneth   her,    rich   though 
It   be    and  seemly.     Into   this   pure    soul, 
Through   fear   of   ill,    I    enter;    or   by   goal 
Of   future   gain   before   it  set. 

So  came 

He   to   her   pleasance   yet   again.     A  flame 
Leaped   high    above    a   brazier   that   he   bore, 
Its    sweet,    white,    scented   wood    quick    lapping   o'er. 
With    darkened   face    Eblis    above    her   hung. 
"  This  hath,    than   my   poor   pipe,  a   keener  tongue," 
Smileless   and   stern,    he  said.     "Oh,    dame, 
List   how   the   wild,    crisp,    crackling  ruby    flame 
Eats  through    the    tender   boughs.     A   trusty    knave 
It  is,    that   serves   me  well ,    and   loud   doth   rave 


52  LILITH. 

As   tiger  caged.     When  I   do   set   it  free, 

With   angry  fangs   leaps   on   its  prey.     But   see, 

It   now   sleeps  harmlessly,   till  Eblis  calls 

His   faithful   servant   back.     Lilith,  when   falls 

The   red   fire   at   thy  feet,  dost  fear  ? "    "  Nay,    nay," 

She   cried,   and   drew   her  white   neck   up.      "  A  way 

To   tame   it   thou   hast   found.     Believe   me,    since 

It    is   thy   slave    I    too   will   bind   it,  prince. 

Should   Lilith   fear?     Unfaltering,  these  eyes 

Have    watched    when    rushing    storm-clouds    heaped 

the   skies, 

And   the   black  whirlwind,  with   loud,  deafening  roar, 
Beat   the   torn   waves;    or  whirled  against  the   shore 
The   tumbling  billows,  with   fierce    lips  that   bit 
The   shrinking   land.     And    the   wreathed    lightnings 

split 

The   cloud   with  thunder  dread  :  or  wildly   burst 
Upon   the   sea   the   water-spout.     Shall   first 
She  fear   thy  flame,   who   feared   not    these?"     "Fit 

mate 

Art   thou  for   Eblis,"   answered   he.     "  His   fate 
Share,   great-souled   one.     Thou   wouldst  not   meanly 

shrink, 

Though  his  strong   heart   did  fail.     O  Lilith,  think ! 
The   crown   of   clustered   worlds   thou   mayest   find, 
If  thou   with   him   who    loveth   thee   wilt   bind 
Thy   life."     "Nay,  far  happier   seems   to   me 
Than   eagle   caged,  the  wild  lark   soaring  free," 


LILITH.  53 

She  said.    And  through  her  rose-pleached  alleys  strayed 

They  to   the   sea.     And  tender  music   made 

That  guileful   voice ;    yet   slow  his   wooing   sped 

Those   summer   days.     But   when  were    dead 

And  brown  the  crisping  leaves,  "Oh,  love,"  he  said, 

"  Of   all   the   centuries,    thou   rarest   bloom, 

Thy   shut  heart   open   wide.     Its   sweet   perfume, 

Though   I    should  die,   fain  would   I    parting   drink. 

Sleeps  yet    thy   love  ?     From   me   no   longer  shrink, 

My   Lilith.     Oh,  lift  up   thy   tender  eyes ; 

In   their  blue   depths   doth   happy   morning   rise ; 

'Tis   night   if   they   be   closed." 

She   softly   sighed; 

And   ancient   strife   recalling,   thus   replied : 
"  When   dwelt  a   prince   discrowned,  well   satisfied  ? 
And   fallen,  loving,   still    art  thou   a  prince, 
And   otherwhiles   might   sorrow   bring   me,    since 
It   might   hap   thou  wouldst   much   desire  her   realm, 
Were   Lilith  thine ;    for   princes   seize   the  helm 
When   Love   lies   moored,    and   bid   the   shallop  seek 
Across   the   waves   new   lands.     But   Love   is   weak, 
And   so,    alas,   the   craft   upon   the  sands 
Is   dashed,  while  one,  on-looking,  wrings   her   hands. 
Such   days   I   have  outlived.     Like   Adam,    thou 
Perchance  will   seek   to   bind  the  loosed.     Then  how 
(If   one   hath   drunken   wine  of   liberty) 
Shall   she,    athirst,    rejoice ;    no   longer  free, 
Be   glad  ? " 


54  LILITH. 

"My   love,"   he   said,   "large-hearted   lives, 
Full   dowers   thee,    and   royal   bounty  gives, 
Nor  knoweth  law,  save  Lilith's   wish   alone." 
"Why,  then,"  she    answered,  "on  the  polished  stone 
That   fronts    yon   hill,   write,    Eblis,    in   full   day, 
That   other   time    we    read   it   clear,    and   say, 
'Hereon   are   graven   all    those   early   vows 
We   whispered   low   aneath   the    summer  boughs,' 
Write   every   word.     That   so   the   stone   shall   be 
Ever   a   witness   mute   twixt   thee   and   me. 
Then   shall   I   know   thou  seekest   in   me   no   thrall 
For   after-days,    if   thou   make   compact.     All 
Thou   hast   said,    write   now." 

Then   on   the    stone, 

As  she   had   said,    graved   Eblis,    and   thereon 
Did   set   his   seal.     So  wedded  they:    and   hand 
In   hand  the   wide   world   roamed.     Or   in   her  land 
Abode.     And   oft,    of   hours,    ere   yet   on   earth 
He    walked,    she    questioned.      Or    he    loosed    with 

mirth 

Her  yellow   hair,    down-streaming   o'er  his    arm ; 
And   'gainst   his   cheek   her  breath   came   sweet   and 

warm ; 

As   through   his   dusky   locks   caressing  played 
Her  fingers   slim;    and   shadows,   half   afraid, 
She    saw   in   his   wild   eyes. 

Or  paths   remote 
They   trod,   watching   the  white  clouds  rise  and  float 


LILITH.  55 

Athwart   the   sky.     Or   by   the   listless   main, 
Or   'neath   the   lotus   bough,    slow  paced   the  twain. 
Or   dragon-trees   spread   their   cool   leafy  screen. 
And  faint  crept  odors  through  the  mangroves  green, 
Where   paused   the   pair   upon   the   sandy   shore. 
Love-tranced,   unheeded,    swiftly  passed   them   o'er 
Glad   summer   days :   till    one   hour   softly  laid 
At   Lilith's   feet   a  fair,   lone   babe,  that   strayed 
From   distant   Dreamland   far.     So   might   one   deem 
That   looked   upon   its  face.     Or,   it   might   seem 
From   other   climes,    a   rose-leaf   blown   apart, 
Down-fluttered  there,   to  gladden   Lilith's  heart, 


BOOK    IV. 


BOOK  IV. 

TO  that   fair   Elf-child   other   summers   came ; 
But    Lilith  walked,    heart-hungered,  filled    with 
shame, 

Naught   comforted.     And   in   that   shadow-land 
She    sorrowing   bore,    in    after-time,    a   band 
Of   elfin   babes,    that   waked   dim   echoes   long 
Forgotten    there,    and   ghastly   bursts   of   song. 
Then   Lilith   saddened   more,  for   that   s-he   knew 
The    curse  was  fallen    now.     And   cried   she    through 
Fast-falling   tears,    "Oh,    me   most   desolate, 
That   shall   not   know   in    any   time    the   fate 
Of   happier   mothers !     Nay,    nor   cool   touch 
Of   baby   hands.     Oh,    longed-for,    loved   so   much! 
Alas,    my   babes,  ere   yet   hour-old   ye  fly, 
Out-spreading   shining   wings   with   jeering   cry, 
Afar   from   me.     Most   hapless    I,  from   whom 
The   crown   of   motherhood,  yet  white   with   bloom, 
Falls   blighted !    Close   in   these   empty   arms   fain 
Would    I    clasp    my   babes!    My   tender   pain 
But   once   could   ye   not   solace  ?    Nay,   'tis    vain ; 
I   shall   not  kiss   their  lips,   nor  hear   again, 


59 


60  LILITH. 

As   gladder  mothers   may,   low-rippling,   sweet, 
The   laughter  children   bring   about   their  feet. 
Oh,    soulless   ones,  can   ye   not  wait   awhile, 
'Till   on   your   loveless   lips   I  wake   one   smile  ? " 
But   merrily   out-laughed   the   phantom   crew ; 
On   shining   pinions   white,    swift   seaward   flew, 
Or  upward   rose,    slow-fading    in   the   blue ; 
Or   lured   her   trembling,  green   morasses   through. 
And   'mong   the   frothy   waves   they  vanished   fast; 
Or  shrieked  with   glee   borne   on   the  wintry  blast, 
And   wilder   raised   their   warlock   song. 
While   fairer  grew   each   day  that   elfin   throng. 

To  pluck  the   mangoes  brown,   fair  Lilith  sped 

One  morn.     Quick  throbbed  her  heart.     On  mossy  bed 

Lay  all   her   babes.     With   face   like   morning,  shone 

One   there,    and   wide   her  yellow   hair  out-blown 

As  'twere  in  play.     Red-flushed  her  cheeks,  and  deep 

About   her   lips   the   baby   smiles.     Asleep 

Was   one,   white-gleaming,    pure   as   pearl   unseen 

In   sunless   caves,  close-shut.     And   one   did   lean 

Against   his   fellow,    lithe,    sun-flushed   and  brown, 

With   rings   of  jetty   hair   that   low   adown 

His    bosom    streamed.     And   one    there    was,    whose 

dream 

O'erflowed   with   laughter.     And   one   did  seem 
Half-waking.     One,  with  dimpled   arms   in   sleep 
Thrust  elbow-deep  in   moss,  that   sure  did  weep 


LILITH.  6 1 

Ere  yet   he   slept,  and  on  his  cheek   scarce   dried 
The   wilful   tears. 

Then   low,  pale    Lilith   cried 
As    near   she   drew,  down-bending   tender   eyes: 
"And   are   ye   here,    my   babes;    and   will   ye   rise 
If   I   but   break   your   sleep?"     His   naked  feet 
One   faintly   moved  as   low   she   leant;    and  warm 
His  slumbrous  breath  stirred  'gainst  her  circling  arm, 
And   slow   aneath   his   closed  lids   slipped   a  waft 
Of  wind,  that   loosed   a  trickling  tear.     Its   craft 
The   mother-heart   forgot   thereat.     "At   last, 
Close   to   my  breast,  my  babes,"  she   cried,  and   fast 
Laughing,  outstretched  her  eager  hands  and  strong. 
Then   lay   with   empty   arms. 

The   elfin   throng 

Breasted   the   pulsing   air  with   mocking   song. 
"Alas,"  she   said,  "could  ye   not  give   one   kiss  — 
One   tender   clasp   of   hands !    And   must    I   miss 
Your  throbbing  hearts  from   my  cold,  barren  breast, 
Ye   soulless   ones,    that  flout   my   lonely   rest?" 

There,   prostrate,  long  lay  Lilith,  and  there,   late 
'Mid   dew-fall,    Eblis   found   his   stricken   mate. 
"O  Eblis,  say   o'er   me   what   curse   hangs   bare, 
For   now   no   more,"    she   said,    "this    realm    seems 

fair. 

Its  fruits  grow  bitter,   all   its   light  falls   chill. 
With  thee,  my  prince,  poor   Lilith   mates  but  ill  — 


62  LILITH. 

Earth-born,   with   angel    linked.     Alas,    is   left 
No   joy   to   me,   of   my   sweet   ones   bereft. 
Methinks   soft   baby   lips   might   erewhile   drain 
From    Lilith's   famished   heart   its   wildest   pain. 
Wherefore,   my   Eblis,    it   were   wise   to   seek 
Surcease   of  grief.     That   Lilith,  is   so   weak 
Who   wedded    thee  ;    and  that  she  sinned,  knew  not. 
Yet,    if   we   part,   mayhap   may  follow   naught 
Of   other   ills." 

"Sweet  love,"  he  laughed,  "o'er-late 
Thou   art   so   timorous.     At   Eden's   gate 
Not   so,    what   time   the   angel   barred   her  way 
My  Lilith  stood.     Shelter  within  my  arms.     Oh,  say, 
Was    not    our   young    love    sweet?     Hath    it    grown 

cold? 

With   me   thou   sharest   endless   life;    nor  old, 
Nor  shrivelled,  shalt   thou  be.     And   not  one  trace 
Of  earth's   decay   (sure   doom   of   thy   sad   race) 
Shall   taint   thy   babes.     For   lo,   I   give 
Thy   soulless   ones   immortal   youth.     They   live 
Without   a   pang.     And  yet,    methinks   the   cry 
Of   Earth   adown   the    ages   sounds,  when   die 
Its   babes;  and   mothers   bend   dumb   lips   above, 
And  fold   still   hands,  that   answer   not   their  love. 
Lilith,    doth   not   indeed   my   love   outweigh 
Caresses   missed   from   phantom   babes?    Astray 
From   Eden    long,    here    in    this   fair   domain 
To  bide  ;    and  through  long  cycles  fearless  reign 


LILITH.  63 

Methinks  were   joy.     In   summer  sheen 
Wide   spreads   thy  land.     The   marge  of   islets   green 
The   palm-trees   skirt.     Soft   shine   the   dusk   lagoons 
And  inland  mountains.     Mirk  the  jungle's  glooms, 
And  fair  thy   fertile   plains.     Oh,    sweet   the   glow 
When   we   together   watch   the   day,  that   low 
Among  the  winds   lies   still.     Shut    lilies   blow 
While  here  we  wait.    Come,  for  they  fain  would  show 
Their  golden   hearts.     Or,    love,   with   me    to   float 
Were   it   not  sweet,  through   flowery   bays   remote, 
Past  coves  and  peaks?    Or  pierce  yon  ocean's  verge, 
And    through    wild     tumbling    waves     our    sails    to 

urge  ? " 

"Yea,  sweet  is  love,"  she    said,  "and  sweet  to  roam 
By  listless   currents   lulled;    or   'mid   the   foam 
Low  dip   our  feathery   oars,"    she    sighed,  "yet    sore 
Is   still   the    mother-heart   that   hears   no   more 
The  lisping  tongues.     And  sad,  when  baby  smiles 
Have   left   it   desolate.     And   baby  wiles 
Shall   cheer   it   never   more." 

"Yet,"    Eblis    said, 

"  Lilith,  no   longer   mourn.     For    I    have    read 
Upon    a   scroll   as    samite    glistening  white, 
All    coming   fate,    close    hid   from    human    sight, 
Great  peoples  yet   shall   dwell   in   these   dusk   lands. 
Then    shall    thy    children,    shadowy   bands 
That   fly   thy   fond    caress,    with    them    abide 
In   closest   fellowship.     And   though    they   hide 


64  LILITH. 

Sometimes  from   human   ken   their  better  selves, 

Still   loved,   remain   these   tricksy   elves. 

Though    yet    indeed    some    quips    and    pranks    they 

play, 

Tis  but   a  jest,   men   know,   when   far   away 
The   flickering   marsh-fires   swift   they  light 
And   children   follow   their  false   tapers   bright 
Among   the   spongy   bogs.     The   ship-lad   smiles, 
When   distant   'mid   the   waves   the   phantom   isles 
Rise  green.     'Tis  but  a  harmless  jest  that  sets 
On  lonely  plains,  domes,  mosques,  and  minarets, 
And  o'er  the  desert  sands,  mirage  uplifts 
When  glimmering  waves  shine  through  deep  rifts 
Of  crested   palms. 

"  Still   dearer   they  when   wide 
To   undiscovered   lands   men   boldly   ride 
Across  new  seas ,    and  turn  their  venturous  prows. 
When  tempests  shriek,  and  wet  about  their  brows 
The  salt  spray  dashes  fierce,  one,  watching,  cries, 
'Good  mates,  no  storm  I  fear,  for  yonder  rise 
The  Elf-babes  'mid  the  foam.     Ye  goblin  crew, 
That   sail    these    unknown    seas,    we   follow   you 
To  harbor  safe.     Ho,  ho !    With  beckoning  hands, 
Wind-driven,   loud   they   cry  —  My  mates !    the   lands, 
The   golden   lands   we    seek,    are   ours ! ' 

"  In   Earth's   brown   bosom    pent,  the    hardy   wight 
Long   in  deep  caverns  dwells;    and   hard  doth   smite 


LILITH.  65 

The   rocky  caves.     Nor   sees   the   golden   spoil 
Through  weary  days  of   wasted,  lonely  toil. 
From  his   wild   eyes,   far-flying   hides   the   prize, 
Till   desperate,  angered,   worn,    aloud   he    cries : 
'Vain,  vain!    The  caves    my  labor  answer   not, 
Nor  yellow  threads,    that   gleam   in    any   grot. 
Hard,  cruel,  silent   hills,  my  strength   ye    mock, 
And   seal  your   treasures  close    in   flinty    rock ; 
So,  after   toilsome  years,  sweet  wife,  I   bring 
To   thee    no   sparkling   love-gift.     Nay,  nor  anything 
To  cheer  our  failing  time.' 

"Then   round  him   hears 

He   sturdy  blows,   and  listening,   almost   fears 
He    dreams.     But   swift   the  echoes    rise,  and  still 
More    loudly   roll,    and    quick   replies   the    hill. 
Reverberant,    through   all   the    caverns   round, 
The  uproar   swells,  and   fills  the  world  with  sound. 
Then   lists  he   once   again.     'With   lusty   shocks 
Your   hammers  ring   against  the  hard-ribbed  rocks  — 
Goblins  ! '  he  boldly  shouts,  '  smite  !    smite  !  ye  bring 
My  treasure   forth,    dark-beating   goblin   wing 
Among   the   gleaming   caves,  whose   dusk   veins   hold 
The   gold.     At  last !     At   last,    the  ruddy  gold ! ' 

"And   lone,    in  stricken   fields,   the    husbandman 
Sits  pale,   with   anxious   eyes   that   hopeless   scan 
The   burning   sky.      Hot   lie    the    glimmering   plain 
And   uplands   parched.     'Behold,   the    bencjmg  grain, 

fuKI7ERSIT7! 


66  LILITH. 

Fair  in   the    springtide,    now  is  dead ;    and  dry 
The   brooks.     If   yet   the    rainfall   fail,   we    die 
Of   famine    sore.     No  bleating   lambs    I    hear  in  fold 
Safe    shut,  nor   lowing   kine ;    nor   on    the    wold 
The   whir   of   mounting  bird :    Nor  thrives   about   me 
Any   living   thing.     So    seemeth,    end   must   be 
Of   striving.     Since    all   the    land   is    cursed, 
What   matter   if   by   famine   scorched,   or   thirst, 
We   die?'  he    saith. 

"And   thick   the   warlock   swarm 
Above   his   head,  wide-spreading   dark   wings   warm, 
Fast   flitted   by.     The    waiting   fields   he    stands 
Among.     And  laughing,    claps   exultant   hands. 
'Good   speed    ye,    Sprites!    that   bring    the   welcome 

cloud 

And   pile    the   vapors    thick,'  he    shouts    aloud. 
Oh!    sweet   shall    bloom    again    the    bending   grain, 
And   clothe    afresh   the    wide,    the    wasted   plain. 
The  clouds  sweep  black.    Ha,  ha  !  Against  my  cheek 
The    big  drops   fall.     Merry  the   goblins    shriek. 
Behold,    they   mount,    they   sink,    they   rise    again. 
Ho,  friendly   elves,  that  bring  the   longed-for  rain ! ' ' 

Thereat,  he,  smiling,    ceased.     And   when   soft   crept 
The    listening   stars    across   the    sky,    they   slept 
Untroubled,    'neath   the    mango-trees. 

But   when    midway 
The   night   was    spent,    Prince    Eblis   waking  lay. 


LILITH.  67 

Soft    Lilith's     breathing     'mong     the    droopt     leaves 

stirred. 

Slid   he,    sore   troubled,    mused   on  every  word 
That   Lilith   spake   ere   yet  they   slept.     In   all 
Foreseeing   much   of   ill  that   might   befall 
Their   love.     "  O,    queenly   soul !    Of  finer  grain 
Thou   art   than    angels    are.     And   more    in   brain 
Than   man,  I   hold  thee.     Sooth,  yet   taints  thee  still 
One    touch   of   womankind.     And    since    so   chill 
She   finds   her   babes,    must    I   forego   my   vow? 
For  one   flaw,  Hope's    clear   crystal  break?     Oh,  how 
Ally   her   cause    with   mine!    So    doth   she    long 
For   human    love  —  a   baby   hand    is    strong 
To   hurl    my   empire    down.     From   her  soft   heart 
Red,    baby   lips    can    drain    revenge,  and   start 
Unbidden   tears.     And   pity   wakes   to  life 
When    'mong   dead   embers  she  sits    lone,    and  strife 
Is   done. 

"Then,    at   Regret's   dull   heels,   lo,   fast, 
Retrieving   follows.     Happy   days    long   past 
She   will    recall.     If   so   for   love    she   yearn, 
Back   to   her   early   home    once    more    will   turn, 
Pardoning   her    wilful    lord.     And   he    again 
Shall   win   the    woman    I    so   love,    and   fain 
Would   hold   forever.     Lilith,    thou   one   balm 
Of   my   lost   soul    in    all    this   world!     Shall    calm 
My   sufferings,    or   love    me,    any  one,    save   thee, 
When   thou   in    Adam's    arms   forgettest   me? 


68  LILITH. 

My   only   love!     Nay,    then,   'twere   surely  wise 

To   shut  these   baby   faces  from   her   eyes, 

New   seeds   of  wrath   to   sow,   her   hate  so  feed 

That   all   her  rankling  wounds   afresh  shall   bleed. 

And   in   her   ears    *  Good    Adam ! '   will    I   cry, 

Lest   she   forget   Eden   she   lost   thereby. 

Yea,     'Adam!'     I    will    laugh.      Till    her    red     lips 

with   guile 
O'erflow.      And    she    shall    curse    him    loud.      With 

subtlest   wile 

Safe   won,    then    shall   she   ever  be   mine   own. 
Soul-bound   to  me  in  hate,  more  terrible  than  death 
In   hate,    that   long   outlasts    Love's   puny  breath  — 

0  cunning   craft,    that   with    the    self-same    blow 
Forever   wins   my   love,    and   smites   my   foe ! 

"Last   night,    when    Lilith   slept,    lest    I    might   mar 
Her   dreams,  from    our   green   couch  I  rose,  and  far 
Passed   silent.     Know    I    not   the    spell  that   draws 
My   feet   unwilling,    Edenward.     Its   laws 

1  may   not   brave    to    rend   my   foe.     Nor   there 
The    Angel   pass,    unseen.     The    night   so   fair, 
As   prone    among   the    glistening   leaves    I    lay, 
On   Adam   shone.     Not   sad,    as   on   a   day 
Erstwhile    he    seemed.     And    I    could   almost   swear 
The    sound   of   silvery   laughter   on   the    air 

Fell    soft.     And    a   fleet  footfall  'mong  the    flowers 
Scattered   the    dew.     Yet   'mid   those    silent   bowers 


LILITH.  69 

Naught   else    I    saw   or   heard   save    rippling   flow 
Of   waters,    and   the    moonshine    white.     Oh,  low 
Speak,    Eblis,    lest   aloud   the    night   may   tell 
Thy   secret    to   the    stars.     Yet   it   were    well 
If   lies   the   hidden   cure   for   Lilith's   woe 
Close   shut   in  Paradise. 

"All   would   we    know, 

If   we,    close    hid   without   those    verdant   walls, 
Together   watched.     What   fate    soe'er   befalls 
I   care   not,    if   with   me    she   bide." 

Down   bent 

He   o'er   her   hair,    thick   with   the    night-dew   sprent. 
Soft    kissed     it,     crying,     "  Love,    the     morn    shines 

bright. 

Waken,    my   Lilith,   now.     Through    lands  of   night 
Our   happy   course    afar   doth   ever   wend ; 
Past   smiling   shores   where    mighty   rivers   bend, 
Past   cove    and    cape    and   isle,    and   winding   bay 
And   still    blue    mists,    that    hang   athwart   the    day." 
Thereat   she    rose,    and   joyously   they   sped 
By   broad   lagoons   where    musky   odors    shed 
New  blooms.     About    them   coiled    long   wreaths    of 

vine, 

And   slim   lianas   drooped,    and   marish    lichens   fine. 
And  fared   they   on   o'er   many   a   slanting  beach 
And    mountain    crest;    past   many   an   open   reach 
And   forest   wild  —  till   over   Paradise 
They   saw   the   stars,   clear,   tender,   loving,   rise. 


70  LILITH. 

Then   'neath   the  screen   of    those   rose-girdled   walls 
They   hid   without,    listing   the   waterfalls, 
Or   bird   belated,    twittering  to   its   nest. 
So    still    the    spot,    the    very   grass   to   rest 
Seemed   hushed. 

The   garden-close,    a   clinging    rose    o'ercrept. 
Its   lustrous   stem   without   that   drooping   swept 
Thick   set   with   buds    as   tintless    as   the    snows 
On    sunless   hills,   when   wild  the    north   wind   blows. 

Lilith   a-tiptoe   stood;   upreaching,   caught 

The  swaying  boughs.     Her  eyes  with  longing  fraught 

Close   scanned  her  old  deserted   home.     Then  came 

Upon   her   spirit   sadness,    as   if   blame 

Unuttered  breathed  through  those  remembered  glades 

And   touched   the   odors    moist    'mong   mirky   shades. 

With   wistful   gaze,    she    traced   each   bosky   dell, 

Each  winding  path.     And  sweet  youth's  memories  fell 

About   her. 

Then   was   she    ware   of   Adam,   slow 
Pacing  the   pleasance-ways.     With   ruddy  glow 
Fresh    shone    his    cheeks,    and   crisp    his    hair    out- 
blown 

By  wanton   winds.     His   lips   were   mirthful  grown. 
Once   he   made   pause   hard   by   the   coppice   green 
That   hid   the   watcher.     Once   the   leafy   screen 
So   near  he   passed,   from    the   o'erhanging   edge 
He   brushed   a   rose.     The   hindering   hedge 


LILITH.  71 

Quick   through,  in   sudden   blessing   slim  white  hand 
Fain     had     she    reached.      "O    Eden   mine!      Dear 

land," 

She    sighed.     And   springing  warm    the    tender   tide 
Of  teardrops  gemmed   the    roses   at   her   side. 

So  greets   the   weary   wanderer   once   more 
His   early  home.     The   lintels  worn,   the    door 
Age-stained;    the  iris   clumps,    in   sheltered   nook; 
The    mill-wheel    rotting   o'er   the    shrunken   brook; 
The    sunny   orchard,    sloping   west ;    and   far 
And  cold,    above   his  mother's   grave,  a  star  — 
Then   quick  unbidden   tears,    the    heart's   warm   rain, 
O'erflow   his    soul,    and   leave  it   pure    again. 
So    Lilith   backward   turned   to  holier  days, 
Watching  through  misty  tears  where  trod  those  ways 
Her  feet   in   other   times. 

Sudden    and   sweet 

Came    down   those    paths   a   glimpse   of   flying   feet ; 
A  sound  of   girlish   laughter   smote    the   air. 
In   jealous   rage,    Lilith   uprose    to  dare 
The  guarding   Angel's   wrath.     But,  silver  clear, 
The   mocking   laugh   of   Eblis   caught  her   ear. 
"  Thou   hast   forgot,"  he  said,  "  this   peaceful    land, 
Living,  thou   canst  not   enter." 

But   her   hand 
Grasped   once    again    the    roses'    shining   strand, 


72  LILITH. 

And   'neath   her  guileful  touch,    like  scarlet    flame 
The   snowy  flowers   burned.     So,   first   Earth's  shame 
Around   them  set  the   spiked   thorns. 

Long  there 

Pale   Lilith   looked,    as   coldly   still  and  fair 
As   carven   stone.     Then,    with    a   fierce   despair, 
A   sense  of  utter  loss,    downbending  there, 
With   fingers   hot   she    tore    the   hedge    apart 
And   laid   thereto   her   face.     With   sorer   smart 
She   gazed   again.     For   now,    the   twain   at   rest 
Were   laid.     Pure   as   a   dream,    Eve's   sinless   breast 
A   babe    close   pressed.      One    pink  foot,   small   and 

warm, 

Among   the   leaves   was   hid.     One   dimpled   arm 
Aneath   her  head. 

Low   Eblis   sneered.    "I   wot 
In   young   Eve's    arms    my  Lilith    is   forgot. 
Oh,   soon,"  he    said,    "these    earth-worms    changeful 

turn  — 

From  the   oped   rose  when  red  the  shut  buds  burn." 
But  wild  eyes  on  the  babe  she  fixed.    "Oh,  blind," 
She    cried,    "was    I.     Yea,    if    the   wanton   wind 
Doth   mock,    I    will    not   chide.     Was   it   for   this 
I   wandered   far,    and   bartered   Eden's   bliss? 
For   this    have   lost    the    very   bloom   of   life? 
So   Adam   comfort    finds,    not   knowing   strife ! 
Look   you,    that   fragile    thing   at   Adam's   side  — 
I   heed   her   not.     But   Lilith   is   denied 


LILITH.  73 

The    treasure    she    so    careless    doth    possess. 
See   how   the   babe,    scarce    waking,    doth   caress 
The   mother!     Look!     Oh,    hear   the    mother   croon 
Above    her   child !     Ah,     Eblis,    love,    I    swoon  — 
I    shall    not   know    such   joy.     Alas,    to    me 
No   babe    shall    come!     Accurse'd   may   she    be, 
Cursed   Adam   too.     Thrice    heavy   on   the    head 
Of   this   poor   babe    my   wrong   be   visited." 
So,    trembling,    she    brake    off. 

"Fast   fades   the    light, 

Sweet   love.     Once  more  to  our  dark  realm  of   night 
Let   us   return,"    he    said. 

As   on   fared   they 

With   merry   jest,    Eblis   gan   cheer   the   way. 
"Nay,  otherwhiles  mirth  pleased,"  she  said.    "  Know- 

est   thou 

What   name   she   bears,   who   dwells   in   Eden   now? 
When   Lilith   went,   long   tarried   Adam   lone  ? " 
She   said.     Replied   he,    "All   to   me    is   known 
Since   that   same   hour  you   parted.     What  befell, 
To   thee   as   we   wend   onward    I   will   tell. 

"Calm   morn  in   Eden   streaked   the   skies  with  red, 
And  flushed   the  waiting   hills   above   the  grassy  bed 
Where    Adam,    joyless,    saw   new   rise    the    sun, 
Unwinding   golden   webs  night-vapors   spun 
Athwart   low  meads.     Slow,  droning  murmurs   sent 
The   waking  bees,   with   bloom   and   fragrance   blent. 


74  LILITH. 

Unheeded   poured   her   music   blithesome   Day 
The    reedy  brooks   beside    and    shallows   gray. 
For   lone    to   Adam    seemed   the    place,    and   cold ; 
The    landscape    dumb,  as   one    aneath   the    mould. 
For   Lilith's   sake,    no   more    was    Eden   fair. 
Bloomless    the    days,   the    nights    bowed    down    with 

care. 

Oft  pacing  pathways   dim,  he   saw   the   gleam 
Of  strange-faced   flowers   beside   the   purling  stream, 
Or  toyed  with  circling   leaves  ;  or  plucked  the   grass, 
And  watched  through  rifted  trees  the  clouds  o'erpass ; 
Wide   roaming,   heard   the   waters   idly   break 
Far   'gainst  the   curving   beach. 

"  And  grieving,    spake, 

(  Oh,  sweet  with  thee  each  hour  —  each  wilding  way, 
And   sweet   the   memory   of   each   gathered   spray. 
Could  you  not  wait,  dear  love  ?  Or  come  once  more  ? 
Yea,  'till   you   come,  vain   doth   great   Nature  pour 
Her   richest   gifts.'     He   paused,    and   heard   alone 
Respondent  fall,  the   wood-dove's   plaintive   moan, 
And   the   spent   winds   among   the   scented  glades. 
Moss-couched  beneath   the   glinting  forest   shades, 
He   gazed,  when   shadows   o'er   the   hills   crept  light, 
Quick   vanishing,   like   phantom   fingers   white, 
Until   on   mead,   and   mere,    and    sounding   shore 
Eden   found   voice,    sad   plaining,    *  Never-more ! ' 
Long  time   he   pondered   on   blue   peaks   remote 
When   slow,    as   stranded   ships   that   listless   float, 


LILITH.  75 

Moved  by  the   sunset   clouds.     Or  the  white   rack 
Swept  o'er   the   garden   walls. 

"'Would   I  their  track 

Might   take,'  he    said,    'Lilith,    so   long  you   stay. 
Whom   my   soul   follows   sorrowing  —  alway.' 
Thus  ever  mourned   he,   comfortless ;  that   so 
In   after   days   the    Master,    in   the   glow 
Of  morning-tide,  the   mother   of   the   race 
Gave  for  his  solacement. 

"Oh,    fair   the   face 
Young    Eve    bent    o'er    his    sleep.      Ere    down    the 

glade 

The  startled  fawn   leaps   swift,  her  glance   dismayed 
Questions   the  hunter,  mute.     Such  eyes  —  so  brown, 
So   soft,    so   winning,    shy  —  that   looked    adown 
When  Adam  waked.     Like  vagrant   tendrils,    tossed 
Dark  hair  about  her  brows.     And  quaintly  crossed 
Her  hands   upon   her  breast.      Less   red   the   dart 
That   deepest   cleaves   the   folded   rose's   heart, 
Than    her  round   cheeks.     Not   hers   the    regal    air 
Of   Lilith   lost,   the   white   arms,   lissom,   bare, 
The  slender  throat ;   the  elbows  dimpled  deep,  whereto 
Might   scarcely   reach   Eve's   head. 

"  Yet   soft,    as   through 

Some    pleasant    dream,    the    summer's    spicy   air 
Stirs   odorous    'mong   seaward   gardens   fair, 
In   southland   hid ;   so,   gently,    Eve    straightway 
To   Adam's  life   unbidden   came,  to  stay 


76  LILITH. 

Forever  there.     Sure   entrance   then   made   she 
Into   that   heart   untenanted   by   thee. 

"  So,  to  some  olden  house,  from  whose  shut  doors 
One   went   erewhile,    another   comes.     Its   floors 
All   empty   sees.     The    lowly   threshold   worn, 
The   moss-grown   roof,    the    casements   left   forlorn. 
Amid   the    shadows   round   about   him   stands, 
Missing   the   footsteps   passed   to   other   lands, 
And  whispers   tenderly,   'Since   here   no   more 
The   owner  bides,   what  harm    if   on   the   floor 
I   pass  ?     Good   chance   it  were  the   clambering  vine 
About   the   porch   with   fingers   deft   to   twine  — 
To   draw  the   curtains,   ope  the    door.     For  who 
May  know  how  soon  these  paths   untended,  through, 
He   comes   again,   with   weary,   way-worn   feet, 
Who   made   aforetime,   other   days   so   sweet. 
Wherefore,  I   enter   now.     For  whose   dear   sake 
These   vacant   rooms,  white,  fragrant,  clean,  I   make. 
And   when,  world-wearied,   he   returns,  we   twain 
Perchance   together  bide.     Nor  part   again.' 
So  Eve   found   refuge.     Tender   love,  the   spell 
Whereby  she  ruled.     Peaceful   the   pair  did   dwell. 
Fast   fled   the   happy  years,    till   softly   laid 
In   her  glad   arms   the   babe  —  a   winsome    maid." 
He   ended   there.     Between   them   silence   deep 
Fell,  as   they  journeyed.     And   the   furthest   steep 
They  crossed,  that  o'er  their  shadow-world  rose  high. 
Then   saw  they  level   plains,  their  home,  anigh. 


LILITH.  77 

And   now,  seeking  her  pleasance   once   again, 
They   came   to   their   own   land.     But   all   in   vain 
His   care.     Silent   she   was,  and   oft   did  grieve, 
Till   Eblis  wrathful   cried  :  "  Because   this   Eve 
Adam   holds   dear,    art   mourning?    Still   dost   yearn 
To   mate   his   sordid   soul?     Or  wouldst   thou   turn 
From   summer  land   to   Eden   walls? 

"The   man 
Belike,     ne'er    loved    thee.      So    is    it    young    Eve 

can 

His   pulses   sway.     Is   she    not   passing  fair  ? 
Her  fancies   wild,  it   is   her  daily   care 
To   bend  beneath   his   ever  fickle   will. 
Red-lipped   and   soft,    she   deftly   rules   him   still, 
Though   he   wist   not.     Yet  sweeter   Lilith's  frown 
Than   archest   smile   she   wears.      Great   Soul !     The 

crown 

Thou  bearest  of  fadeless  life.     For  fleeting  dreams 
In   Paradise,   beside   the   winding   streams, 
Wilt  thou   resign  such  boon  ?    Thou   art,  in   sooth, 
Of  mold   too  firm   for   Adam's   love.     In    truth 
A  prince  —  though  fallen  —  consorts  best   with   thee 
Say  which   were   wise,   with   Eden's   lord   to   be, 
Or,   shining   high,    the    purer   soul,    the    star 
That  fadeless   burns,   and   Eblis   lights   afar  ? 
Were  it   not   grand  through  endless   spaces  hurled 
With   me   to   drive,    above   a   shrinking  world 
Our  chariot,   wide  ? 


78  LILITH. 

"For   I   foresee   when   dawn 
Dark   days   upon   our   foes,    and   hope   is   gone. 
Wherefore,    my   Lilith,   now,    as   seems   thee   good, 
Make  choice."     Thereat  she,  turning  where  she  stood, 
With   kisses   hung   about   his   neck,   and   smiled, 
Crying,     "  Thine,     Eblis,     thine  !  "      So     were     they 
reconciled. 


BOOK    V. 


BOOK    V. 

AND   Lilith   oft  to   Paradise   returned, 
For  fierce   within   her,   bitter   hatred  burned, 
And  better,   dearer,    seemed   revenge   than   aught 
She   else   desired.     The   coppice   oft   she   sought, 
Much   hoping   direful   evil   might   be   wrought 
Upon   the   love   that  bloomed  in   Eden. 

Wide 

Oft   strayed  fair   Eve;   the   little   maid,   beside, 
Plucking   the   lotus;    or  by   sedgy  moats, 
From   ribbed   papyrus   broad,   frail   fairy   boats 
Deft  fashioning.     Or   Adam,   watching,   smiled, 
With  flowery   wreaths   engarlanding   the   child. 
And   laughed   the    pair,    intent   on   pleasant  toil, 
When   blithe  the   child   upheaped   her  fruity  spoil  — 
Great  globes   of   red   and  gold.     Or   roguish   face 
O'er  feathery  broods,   or   in   the   further   space 
To   count   the   small   blue  eggs,   she   sportive   bent; 
And  far  her   restless   feet   swift  glancing  went. 
It   chanced   one   day  she  watched  the  careless  flight 
Of  vagrant   butterflies,   that   circled   light 
Uncertain,   high,    above   a   copse   rose-wreathed; 
Then  soft  down-dropping,  gaudy  wings  they  sheathed 

81 


82  LILITH. 

Beside   a   darkling   pool.     The   copse   anear 
With   yellow   buds   was   strewn.     And   softly  here 
She   crept,    deeming  her   little   half-shut  hand 
Might   snare   the   fairest   of   that  gleaming  band. 
Yet   ere   she   touched   it,   wide   its  wings  outspread 
In   flight. 

And   still   she,   swift   pursuing,   sped 
Among   the   groves,    till   wearied,   slept   the   maid 
Deep   in   the   mid-day   shadows,    lowly   laid. 

Without,    stooped   Lilith.     And   with   ringers   swift, 
Among  the   leaves   she   oped    a   small   green   rift, 
That   she  might  see   the  child.     The  hedge  was  wet 
With   starry  blooms.     Whereto   her  hand   she   set 
When   she   awaked,    seeing   each   dainty  frond 
Of  fragrant   ferns,    dusk   mirrored   in   the    pond. 
The   child   came   near   the  copse,   much   wondering: 
From   glossy   stems   the   smooth   leaves   sundering. 
And   stooping   o'er   the    rift,    she   saw   there,   low 
Against   the   hedge,    a   face    like    drifted   snow, 
And   soft   eyes,   blue    as   violets   show 
Above   the   brooks ;  and   hair  that  downward   rolled 
Upon   the   ground    in   glittering  strands   of  gold. 

Mute  stood  the  maid,   naught  fearing,  but  amazed. 
Then   nearer   drew,    and   lingering,   she   gazed 
In   those    blue   orbs.     And   smiling   as   she   knelt, 
The    stranger   quickly   loosed   her  shining  belt 


LILITH.  83 

Of  gems.     Flawless  each   stone  whose   pallid  gleam 
Lit   silent   nooks,    or   slept   by  far-off   stream 
Unheeded  —  pale   pearls   with   shimmering   light, 
From  distant  oceans  plucked,  blue  sapphires  bright, 
And   diamonds   rosy-cold,    and   burning   red 
The   rubies   fine,    and   yellow   topaz   shed 
Its   sultry  glow,   jasper,   dull   onyx   white, 
Sardonyx,   rare   chalcedon,    streaked   with   light. 
Against   her  white   breast   that  bright  zone    she  laid, 
Then   stretched   it,  flashing  forth,  toward   the   maid, 
And   clasped   it   round   her   throat. 

A   luring  strain 

She   sung,   sweet   as   the   pause   of   summer  rain. 
So   soft,   so   pure   her  voice,   the   child   it   drew 
Still   nearer  that  green   rift ;    and   low   there-through 
She   laughing  stroked   the   down-bent  golden   head 
With   her  soft   baby  hands.     And    parting,   spread 
The   silken   hair  about   her   little   face, 
And   kissed   the   temptress  through   the   green-leaved 

space. 

Whereat  fell    Lilith  snatched   the   babe    and   fled, 
Crying,    as   swift   from  Eden's   bounds   she   sped, 
And   like    a   fallen    star   shone    on   her   breast 
The   child,    "At   last!    at   last!    thy   peaceful   rest 
Ere   long  will  cease.     O   helpless    mourn,    frail  Eve, 
Uncomforted.     O   hapless   mother,  grieve, 
Since   Lilith   far  from   thee   thy  babe    doth    bear! 
She   leaves   thy  loving  arms,   thy  tender  care. 


84  LILITH. 

Nor  canst   thou  follow   anywhere   my  flight, 
When    far   we   go  athwart   the    falling   night. 
Ah,   little   babe,   close-meshed   in   yellow  hair 
Thou   liest   pale !     Fear   not,    thou   art  so  fair, 
Much   comfort   lives   in    thee." 

So   ended   she, 

And   onward,   hostile   lands   among,    passed   fleet 
Blue   solitudes  afar,    till   paused   her  feet, 
Where   highest   'mong  hoar  climbing   peaks,    uprose 
A    mountain   crest. 

It  was  the   third   day's   close. 
In   those  untrodden   ways   there   was   no   sound, 
No  sight  of  living  thing,  the  barren  heights  around. 
No   hum    of   insect   life,    no   whirring   wing  of   bird. 
Bare    rocks  alone,  all   fissured,  blotched   and  blurred 
As   with   red   stain  of   battle-fields   unseen. 
Far,  far  below,    still   vales  were    shining  green. 
And    leaping   downward    swift,    a   mountain    stream 
Crept   soft   to   sleep,   where   meadow   grasses   dream. 
Wan,   wayworn,    there,    the    babe    upon   her   knee, 
Lilith    sat    down.     "O    Eve,"   she    said,    "on    me 
The    child    smiles  sweet !     Fondle    her   silken   hair 
If   now   thou   canst,    or  clasp   her  small    hands   fair. 
Thou   hast   my    Paradise.     Lo,    thine    I    bear 
Afar   from    thee.     See,    then!     Its   transient   woe 
Thy   babe    e'en    now   forgets;    and    sweet    and   low 
It   babbles   on    my   knee.     In   sooth,    not   long 
Endure    her  griefs,  and  through   my   crooning   song 


LILITH.  85 

She   kisses   me,    recalling   not   the   place 
Whence  she  has  come.     Nay,  nor  her  mother's  face." 
Long   time   stayed   Lilith    in   that   land.     More   calm 
Each   day   she   grew,   for  soft,   like   healing   balm, 
The   child's   pure    love   fell   on   her   sin-sick   soul. 
Now  oft   among   the   crags,   fleet-footed,   stole 
The   maid,    or   lightly  crossed   the   fertile   plain. 
And   blithesome   sang   among   the   growing  grain 
That  brake   in  billowy   waves   about   her  feet. 
But  when   the   wheat   full   ripened  was,  and   sweet, 
She   plucked   and   ate.     Thereat   a   shadowy   pain, 
A  sense   of  sorrow,   stirred   that   childish   brain, 
She   wist   not   why.     For  it  did   surely  seem 
Before   her  waking   thought,   with   pallid   gleam 
Of   other   days,   dim   pictures   passed;    of  wood 
And  stream,  beyond  these  mountain  rims.     And  stood, 
It  seemed,  midway  a  garden  wide,  a  tree  that  bright 
Like   silver  gleamed,   and   broad   boughs   light 
Uplifted.     Like   ripened   wheat   the   fruit   thereon, 
When   low   the    westering    sun   upon   it   shone. 
Then  slow   the   maid   did   turn,    and   silent   stand 
At   Lilith's   side.     And  o'er  that   mountain   land, 
Down-looking,    mused.     Or   lifted   pensive   eyes, 
And  gaze   that   questioned   if   in   any  wise 
She   might   perceive   the   land   she  longing  sought; 
But   of   its   stream,   or  garden,    saw   she   naught. 
Thereat   Lilith   with   white    lips   drew   more    near, 
And  clasped   in  her  lithe    arms   the  child   so  dear, 

^  Of  1KB  ^3^ 

DHI7BESIT7J 


86  LILITH. 

And    once    again   fled   swift,   a   shadowy   shape, 
Across    green    fields.      And    heard,    through    silence, 

break 

A  voice   she   could   not   hush,    that   loudly  wailed, 
"  My   babe  !    Give   me   my   babe  !  " 

And   Lilith   paled, 

And   listening,   heard,   borne   ever   on   the   wind, 
The    tread   of   feet   fast   following   behind. 
Then  westward  turned,  where  once    among  new  ways 
With    Eblis   she    had   trod    in    other   days, 
When   far   they   wandered.     Thitherward    she    bent 
Her   timid   steps,    the   babe   upon   her  breast, 
Until   with   travel   worn   her   noontide   rest 
She  took.     And   now   a   land   of   alien   blooms 
About   them   lay,    outwafting   strange   perfumes. 
And   quaint   defiles,  that   sloped   behind   a  bay ; 
And   level   fields;    and   curly   vines   that   lay 
Thick  clustered   o'er  with  unripe   fruit ;   and  bent 
Above   them   fragrant   limes   and   spicy   scent 
Of  citron   and   of  myrtle   all   the   place 
Made   sweet,    and    'mid    the   trees,    an    open   space 
They   saw. 

Not  far   away   a   broad   lagoon 
Burned   like   a   topaz   'neath   a   crescent   moon, 
For   day   was   parting.    Even-tide   apace 
Drew   on,  and  chill  the  night  dews   filled  the  place. 
Upon   the   waters   dusky   shadows   clung, 
And   ashen-gray   the   broad   leaves   drooping  hung; 


LILITH.  87 

Low   'mong   the   marish   buds   lay   one   that   made 

Against   the   sudden   dusk   a   duskier   shade  — 

Despairing   arms  upflinging   to   the    sky, 

Smiting   the   silence   with   unheeded   cry  — 

"O   mother,   childless!     Wife— of   all   bereft! 

Alas,   my   babe,   not   even   thou   art   left 

To   comfort   me,   in   these    last   hopeless   days, 

Shut  out  from   Paradise.     Through   unknown   ways 

I  sought  thee   sorrowing.     Oh,   once   again, 

My   Adam,   come !     Is   not   this   gnawing   pain 

Of   punishment   enow,   that   thou   unkind 

Art  grown?     Ah,    never   more    shall   I   thee   find? 

Alas,    I   ever  was   but   weak.     Alone 

I   cannot   live.     Come   but   again,   mine   own. 

No   longer   leave   me   mourning,  desolate. 

In   tears    I   call   thee.     Oh,   in   tears   I   wait 

Thy  sweet,   forgiving  kiss!" 

Ended   she   so 
Her   plaint.     And    'mong   the   glistening    leaves    hid 

low, 

Lilith  yet  fiercer  clasped   the   child 
When   that  lorn   mother,  tear-stained,   weeping,   wild, 
Poured  forth   her  woe. 

As   one   that  wakes   to  life 

From  peaceful   dreams,   leaps   quick   amid   the   strife 
Of  morning  hours,    so   now   the   maid   to   pass 
From    Lilith's   arms    strove    hard.     And    loosed    her 

clasp, 


88  LILITH. 

And   turned   her  shadowed  face  with    plaintive  moan 
And    fond    beseeching    eyes,    where    lay    her    mother 

lone. 

But   Lilith    hardening,  seized    the    child    again, 
And  from    her  ears   shut    out   the    mother's   pain 
With   wilful    hands. 

So   passed   she    quick   away. 
Across   the    dusky   path,    low   fallen,    lay 
Pale   Eve,    till   clear   she   saw   the   dawn's    pure   ray, 
And   as   she   looked,   the   voice   of   one    she   heard 
Anigh.     Her   heart   to   sudden   joy   was   stirred. 
"  Rise    up,    mine  own,"  he    said,  "  no   more    apart 
We  walk."    Then  she  arose,  and  cried,  "Dear  heart, 
Close   hold   me.     So!  Methinks   I    dreamed   we  were 
Parted   long   time." 

So   went,   the   exiled   pair 

From   home   thrust   out,    together  —  everywhere. 
And   oft   they   journeyed   on   with   sufferings   spent 
To   distant   lands.     And   oft   with    labor   bent 
Recalled   the   olden   home,  with   brimming   eyes, 
Hemmed   in  by  mountains  blue  —  lost   Paradise. 

Meanwhile,   to   her  own   realm   Lilith   long   since 
Was  come,  glad   greeting   Eblis.    "  O  my  prince, 
I   have   most   bravely   done.     Our  foes   full  sore 
Are   smitten   now.     My  guerdon   o'er   and   o'er 
Thou   wilt   bestow,    I   ween,    in   kisses   warm 
As   my  own   southland's   breath.     For   I   great   harm 


LILITH.  89 

Have  wrought  that  hated  pair.     With  feeble  moan 
Lies    Eve    in    a   far   land,    thrust   out.     Alone, 
Deserted.     And    whence    angered   Adam   flies 
I    know  not.     Nay,  nor  what    new  world   his   eyes 
Behold.     Nor   even   if   he   live. 

"  But   see  ! 

Sleeps  on  my  breast  the  babe  —  Eve's  babe.     And  she 
Shall    know  no  more    its   tender,  sweet    caress, 
Soft   medicining-  woe.     The    wilderness 
Uncheered   by  love,  is  hers." 

And  by  the  sea, 

Peaceful  abode,  long  time  content,  the  three, 
Save  that  the  child  unmurmuring  drooped. 
Then  oft  above  her  Lilith,  singing,  stooped, 
Striving  to  wake  the  baby  smiles  again 
About  her  wee,  warm  mouth.     Vain  wiles!  And  vain 
Her  loving  skill.     All  still  she  lay,  and  pale. 
As  one  at  sea  pines  for  a  lonely  vale 
Besprent  with  cuckoo  flowers;    the  faint  wild   breath 
Of   cradled  buds,  among   the  cloven  elms,  and  saith, 
1 1  shall  not  see  that  place  beyond  the  seas, 
Nor  any  more  pluck  red  anemones 
In  windless  nooks.' 

So  seemed  the  child,  and  frail 
As  one  that  weeps  above  dead  joys.     Then  pale 
Grew  Lilith  as  those  wasting  lips  she  pressed 
And  kissed  the  filmy  eyes,  and  kissing,  blessed 
The  child. 


90  LILITH. 

But  Eblis  touched  the  hand  so  worn, 
The  faded,  wasted   face.  "Happy,  thou   mother  lorn, 
Unseeing  her,"   he   said.    "This   fragile   thing 
To-day    lies   on    thy   breast.     To-morrow's   wing 
Hath  brushed  it  from  thy  sight."    Low  Lilith  sighed: 
"My   Eblis,  is   this   death?"     And   louder   cried, 
"  But   thou   art   wise,    and   sure   some   hidden  way 
From   this   sore   hap   canst  find.     O   Eblis,   say, 
Hast   thou  no   spell    whereby  the    child   may   live? 
O   love,   my    realm  thy   recompense   I   give, 
If  she   be   healed." 

"  Nay  ;    not   Archangel's   craft 

Stays   fleeting   life,    or   turns    Death's    nimble    shaft," 
He   said.     "Yet   if,"   she   mused,    "I   laid   again 
The   child   in   young   Eve's    arms,    like   summer   rain, 
The   mother's   love   may  yet   restore   again 
This   shriveled   life.     And   yet,   must   I   resign 
The   babe  ?     Alas,    my  little   one !     Nay,   mine 
No   more!"     Weeping   she   ceased. 

But   after,    bore 

The    child   far   northward ;    the  exiled   pair   o'er 
Many   lands   long   seeking.     Till   from   a   crest 
Of  barren   hills   Lilith  "looked   down.     At   rest, 
The   twain   she   saw,   for   it  was   eventide. 
And   low   they   spoke   of   hidden   snares   beside 
Their   unknown    path,    since    unaware   fared   they 
Into   this   hostile   spot.     The    dim   wolds   lay 
All   bare   beneath   chill   stars.     And   far   away 


LILITH.  91 

Were   belts   of   pine,    and   dingy   ocean  shore, 
Like   wrinkled   lip.     Cold   was   the  land,    and   hoar 
With   wintry   rime.      Near  by,    its   leafless   boughs 
A   thorn   bush   bent,   with  withered   berries   red. 
At   sight   thereof   Adam,   rejoicing,    said, 
"My   Eve,   bide   here.     From   yonder   friendly   tree 
The    ripe   fruit    I   will    pluck   and   bring   to   thee." 
"Oh,    leave    me    not!     This    solitude    I   fear; 
The   land    about   is    chill,"    she    said,    "and   drear 
It    seems   to   me."     But   Adam    answered,  "  Nay, 
Sore    famished    art   thou,    and   not   far    away 
It   is— nor   long    I    stay." 

So   parted   he. 

Not   long   alone   was    Eve.     Upstarted   she 
Dismayed.     A   woman,    most   exceeding   fair, 
Beside    her   stood,   with    coils   of   yellow   hair, 
And   blue    eyes,   calm    as    sleep    among  the    hills' 
Dim    lakes.     Eve,     frighted,    shrank.      As     mountain 

rills, 

Sweet   fell   the    stranger's   words.     "My   sister,    one 
Is   here   that   glad   salutes   thee.     And  since    done 
Is   now   my   quest,    and   here   my   journey   ends, 
I   bring   a  goodly  gift.     For  elsewhere   wends 
My   pathway,   Eve. 

"Beside   a   coppice   green, 
Brighter   than   gold,    purer  than   silver   sheen, 
In   a  fair  garden,    once    a  jewel   shone. 
With   it,    compared   in   all   the   world,    no   stone. 


92  LILITH. 

And  low   the   Master  set   it   shining   clear 
Against   the   hedge,  saying,   'When  she   draws  near 
She   will   perceive    on   whom    I    do   bestow 
This   moteless   gem,    that   fellow  doth   not   know.' 

"  Now    I   without   the    copse    that   day  was   hid. 
Soft   shone    the  jewel,    as   the    moon    amid 
The  blue.     And   in    the   garden   I    saw  thee, 
Where    in   the    midst   stood   a   fair  wheaten   tree 
As    emerald   green.     Its   ears,    as   rubies   red, 
Fragrant   as   breath    of   musk,    its   odors   spread. 
And  white    its   shining   grains    as    rifted   snow. 
I    looked    again.     And    in    thy   fair   hand,    lo, 
Full   ripe  bright   gleamed  the   yellow  wheaten   grain. 
Thou    saidst,     'Though     I     did    eat,     I     live.      No 

pain 
Hath   marred   this   pleasant   feast.' 

"Then   I   the   more 

Desired   thy   gem.     *  All   things   most   goodly   pour 
On   Eve    their  gifts.     But   I   am   famished   lone,' 
I   said.     And   still   against   the  hedge   the   stone 
Rayed   like   a  frozen   tear   the    pure    Night   shed  — 
The   which  with   trembling   hand   I   seized,    and   fled 
Afar. 

"But   now   upon    my    soul    weighs   sore 
A  dream.     A  voice  called  loud,   'Straightway  restore 
To   Eve    that   which   is    hers ;    lest    I,    that   bright 
Set   it   against   the   hedge,   will    quench   its   light. 
Yea,    I   will   crumble   it   and   quickly   smite 


LILITH.  93 

It   into   dust   e'en   from   thy   hand.'     Mine   eyes 
I    careless   closed.     But   yesternight   '  Arise  ! ' 
The   stern   voice   cried.     'Stay  not   at   all.     For  lo, 
I  wait   not.     Lest   I   scourge  thee   sorely,   go!' 
Ah,    Eve,    though    long   upon   my   heart    I    wore 
This   jewel   rare,    behold,    I    now    restore 
Thine   own!" 

Then    Eve    cried    loud,    "Ere    my   heart   break, 
Give     me     my    babe !      Where    is    she,     for     whose 

sake 

I    sorrowed    all    these   years  —  the    little    maid?" 
She    said,    through    tender   sobs. 

And    Lilith  laid 

Apart   upon    her   breast   her   garment,    dyed 
In  blended  hues.     And  stooping  at  Eve's  side, 
Gave  back  the  child. 

As  one  that  ending  quest 
Most  perilous,  safe  harbor  sees  —  at  rest 
Among  green  hills  —  and  enters  glad  therein, 
So  Lilith  was. 

So  passed  she  once  again 
Into  her  land. 

But  Eve,  like  rain 

Long  pent,  upon  the  child  poured  swiftly  down 
Sweet  kisses.     And  again,  twixt  laugh  and  frown 
Divided,  smoothed  the  baby  face,  and  through 
Her  fingers  soft  the  silken  hair  she  drew, 
And  kissed  again. 


94  LILITH. 

And  with   a   vague    surprise 

Recalled   the   stranger's   smile,  the    mournful   eyes, 
Much    marveling  whence    she  fared.     And    said,  "As 

pale 
She   seemed   as   bramble-blooms   in   Eden's  vale." 

When   homeward   Adam   came,  the   child   she   set 
Upon   his   knee,   saying,  "Erewhile    I   met 
An   angel.     So   to   me    she    seemed,    as   there 
She    stood.     So   tall,  so  yellow-haired,  so  fair; 
And   lo,    she   brought   again   the    babe." 

Therewith 

She   ended   low.     "Doubtless   an   angel,   love,   sith 
So  you   deem   her,"  he   replied.     And   mused   on    all 
Eve  told. 

And   watching,    saw   a   shadow   fall 
Upon   the   child.     And   later,  did   recall 
Those  words,  sad   pondering  "so  fair,  so   tall." 
But   nothing   uttered. 

In   that  land   long  time 

They   lingered.     And   the   child   slow  faded,  till 
One   day   Eve   frighted   cried,  "  See,  Adam,   still 
She   lies!    Ah,   little   one,  unseal   those   eyes! 
Rouse  •  but  awhile,  ere  waning  daylight  flies !  " 
For   she   discerned   not  yet   its  doom,  nor  knew 
The  hour  was  near. 

But   Adam,   parting,   drew 


LILITH.  95 

Beneath   the  thorn,  lest   he  might   see  the  child. 
And  all  the  lone  hours  through  Eve,  babbling,  smiled 
Adown.     And  blew  her  warm  breath  o'er  the  cheeks 
So  wan.     "  The  night  grows  cold,"  she  said.    "  Sleep 

creeps 

Dull  on  my  babe.     The  night  grows  cold  and  chill," 
She  said. 

Nor  dreamed  aneath   those   lids  closed  still, 
The   death   film   hung. 

A   wind   uprose,    and  swept 

Anlong   the   dry  leaves   heaped,  where   lowly   slept 
The   child.     Cold  grew  the    night   and  colder,  till 
Against   the   east   the   dawn  glowed   daffodil, 
Above   dun   wolds   white   with   new-fallen   snow. 
So   rose   the   day  and  widened   into  morning  glow 
With   rosy  tints   o'erstreaked,   and   faintly  blurred 
With   flecks   of  cloud. 

Still   lay  the  child,  nor  stirred. 
Dumb   Eve    looked    down,    nor   knew   Death's    pallid 

masque, 
And    strove    to    wake    the    maid.      In    vain.      Her 

task 

Was   done.     And   as   she   gazed,    a   gentle   grasp 
Soft   loosed   the   dead  from  that  cold  mother's  clasp, 
And   Lilith   laid   the   babe   in   its   chill   bed  — 
Straightened  the  limbs,  and  kissed  the   little  head. 
And   o'er   the   sleeper,   kneeling,    she    did   lean. 
Forth  from  her  breast  she  drew,  close  folded,  green, 


96  LILITH. 

A  sheath  of  leaves,  bright  shining,  lustrous  —  wet 
With  tears  —  that  in  those  waxen  hands  she  set. 
Then  those  shut  leaves  oped  slow.  And  low  and 

frail 

Bloomed  'mid  the  tintless   snows  a  snow-drop  pale. 
Soft   Lilith   said,  **  For   this   pale    sleeper's   sake, 
O  Eve,  one  kiss   bestow.     E'en   thou   canst   take 
Pity   on  me.     For   thee   new,   happy  days  await, 
But   I  —  I    am   forever  desolate. 
For  thee  fresh  love  will    bloom   above  this   mould; 
For   thee,    in   coming  years,    pure   lips   unfold; 
But   I  —  no  more,   no  more,  shall   feel   the   warm 
Breath    'gainst   my   breast.     Nay,    nor   the    baby   arm 
Soft   clasping   me.     Nor   see   the   feet   that  pass 
Like   falling   music,    through    the    waving  grass. 
Therefore,    one   pardoning   kiss   give   e'er   I   go 
To   my   own    land,  beyond   this    realm    of   snow." 
And   Eve,   uprising,  took   the   hand   she   gave, 
And   weeping,  kissed;    and   parted   by  that  grave. 

Stood    Adam,  after-time,  by   that   small   mound. 
Low   at   their  feet   a   sheaf   of   leaves    Eve   found, 
Wherein   white  flowers   shone.     "  Oh,   like,"  she  said, 
"To   this   was   one    abloom   within   the   bed 
Where    lies   the    child.     And  fair,  O,  passing   fair, 
She    was,    and    tall,  with   yellow   gleaming   hair, 
And   cheeks  soft  flushed  as  fresh  pomegranate  bells; 
And   dewy  eyes,   like   violets   in   the   dells, 


LILITH.  97 

Who  came.     So,    silent   passed   that  stranger  fair 
Who   loved   our  babe.     And   e'er   I    well   was   ware, 

She    vanished." 

Otherwhiles,    "Of   alien    race 

She   was,"    Eve   said.     "A   princess,   with   a   face 
Surpassing   fair,  who   trod   the    pathway   bright 
Among  the   mists,   beyond   the   rim   of   night 
To   her  own  land." 

And   oft   in   after-time, 

When  Cain   had  lain   in  her  young   arms,  and  chime 
Of   voices   round   her   came,    and   clasp   of   hands, 
And   thick  with   baby  faces   bloomed  the   lands, 
Eve   silent  sat,  remembering   that   one  child 
Among   the   snowdrops,    in   a    Northern   wild. 
And   Lilith    dwelt    again    in  her   own  land; 
With   Eblis   still   strayed  far.     And   hand    in   hand 
They   talked;    the    while    her   phantom  brood  in  glee 
Laughed  overhead.     Then   looking   on   the  sea, 
Low  voiced,   she   sang.     So   sweet   the   idle   song, 
She   said,    "From   Paradise,   forgotten  long, 
It   comes.     An   elfin   echo   that   doth   rise 
Upward  from   summer   seas   to  bending   skies. 
In   coining   days,    from   any   earthly   shore 
It   shall   not  fail.     And   sweet  forever   more 
Shall   make   my  memory.     That   witching   strain 
Pale    Lilith's   love    shall   lightly   breathe    again. 
And   Lilith's   bitter   loss    and   olden   pain 
O'er  every  cradle   wake   that   sweet 


98  LILITH. 

My   memory   still   shall   bloom.     It   cannot   die 
While   rings   Earth's   cradle-song  —  sweet   lullaby." 

Slow  passed   dim   cycles   by,    and  in  the   earth 
Strange  peoples    swarmed-,     new    nations    sprang    to 

birth. 

Then  first  'mong  tented  tribes  men  shuddering  spake 
Dread   tales   of  one   that   moved,   an   unseen   shape, 
'Mong   chilling   mists    and   snow.     A    spirit   swift, 
That  dwelt   in   lands   beyond   day's   purple   rift. 
Phantom   of    presage   ill   to   babes   unborn, 
Whose  fast-sealed   eyes   ope    not   to   earthly   morn. 
"We    heard,"     they     cried,     "the     Elf-babes     shrilly 

scream, 

And  loud  the  Siren's  song,  when  lightnings  gleam." 
Then  they  that  by  low  beds  all  night  did  wake, 
Prayed  for  the  day,  and  feared  to  see  it  break. 

When   o'er  the   icy  fjords   cold   rise   white  peaks, 
And   fierce  wild   storms   blot   out   the   frozen   creeks, 
The    Finnish  mother   to  her  breast   more   near 
Draws   her   dear   babe  —  clasps   it   in   her   wild   fear 
Still   closer   to   her  heart.     And   o'er   and   o'er 
Through   her  weird   song  fall  echoes  from  that  lore 
That   lived  when   Time  was  young,  e'er  yet  the  rime 
Of  years   lay   on   his   brow.     In   that   far  prime 
Nature  and  man,  couched  'neath  God's  earliest  sky, 
Heard  clear-voiced  spheres  chant  Earth's  first  lullaby. 


LILITH.  99 

Now,   in  the   blast  loud   sings   the   Finn,  and  long, 
Nor  knows  that  faint  through  her  wild  cradle-song 
Yet   sweetly   thrills   the   vanished   Elf-babes'   cry, 
Nor   dreams,    as   low   she   croons   her   lullaby, 
Still   breathes   through   that   sweet,   lingering   refrain 
Lilith   the   childless  —  and   to   life    again, 
To   love,   she   wakes. 

The    soft   strain   clearer   rings 
As   through   the  gathering   storm  that  mother   sings: 

Pile   the   strong  fagot, 

Pale   Lilith   comes! 

Wild   through   the    murky   air   goblin   voices  shout. 
Hark !     Hearest   thou   not   their   lusty   rout  ? 

Lilith   comes! 

Listen,   my   babe! 

See   how   the   dusk   pines 

Tremble    and   crouch; 
Over  wide  wastes  borne,  white  are  the   snow-wreaths 

blown, 
And   loud   the   drear  icy  fjords   shudder  and  moan; 

Lilith   comes ! 

Listen,   my  babe  ! 

Ah!     Hear  the   wild   din, 

Fierce   o'er   the   linn, 

The   sea-gull,   affrighted,   soars   seaward   away, 
And  dark  on  the  shores  falls  the  wind-driven  spray; 

Lilith   comes ! 

Listen,   my  babe ! 

The   shuddering   ice 
Shivers.     It   cracks! 


TOO  LILITH. 

Like   a   wild   beast   in   pain,    it  cries   to   the   wrack 
Of  the  storm-cloud  o'erhead.     The  sea  answers  back  — 

Dread  Lilith   comes ! 

Listen,   my  babe ! 

Near   draws   the   wraith   fair, 

Dull   gleams   her  hair. 
Ah,    strong    one,    so     cruel  —  fierce     breath    of    the 

North  — 
The   torches   of  heaven    are   lighting   thee   forth ! 

Fell   Lilith   comes! 

Listen,   my   babe ! 

Cold   spirit   of   Snow, 

Ah,   I   fear  thee! 

The   sports  of   my  hunter,   the   white   fox,   the  bear, 
The  spoils  of  our  rivers  are  thine.     Ah,  then  spare, 

Dread   Lilith,   spare 

The   babe   at   my   breast! 

Mercy,   weird   Lilith ! 

Even   sleeping, 

My  babe   lies   so   chill.     See,  the   reindeer   I  give ! 
Ah,    lift   thy   dark  wings,   that  my  darling  may  live  ! 

Pale   Lilith   comes ! 

Listen,    my   babe ! 

Once,   in  the   Northland, 

Pale   crocus  grew 

By  half-wakened   stream.     It   lay   shriveled    and   low 
Ere  the  spring-time  had  come,  in  soft  shroud  of  snow. 

Sad   Lilith   comes ! 

Listen,   my  babe ! 

Foul   Vampire,   drain   not 
From  my  loved  one 

The   life-current   red.     O   Demon,   art  breaking 
My    heart    while    I    plead  ?     Ah,    babe !     Art    thou 
waking  ? 


LILITH.  101 

Lilith,  I  live ! 
Closer   my   babe ! 

Far  o'er   the   dun  wold, 

Baby,    behold 
'Mid    the   mist   and    the  snow,   fast,   fast,   and    more 

fast  — 
In   the   teeth  of   the   blast — flies  Lilith  at  last. 

Pale   Lilith  flies! 

Nearer,  my  babe ! 

By  Ganges   still   the   Indian   mother  weaves 
Above   her   babe   her   mat   of  plantain   leaves, 
And   laughing,  plaits.     Or  pausing,  sweet   and   low 
Her  voice   blends   with   the   river's   drowsy   flow ; 
The  while   she   fitful   sings   that   old,   old   strain, 
Forgetting   that   the   love,    the   deathless   pain 
Of  wandering   Lilith   lives   and   throbs   again 
When  falls   the   tricksy   Elf-babes'   mocking  cry 
Faintly   across   her  crooning   lullaby — 

Ah,  happy  babe,  that  here  may  sleep 
Where  the  blue  river  winds  along, 

And  sweet  the  trysting  bulbu4s  keep 
The  night  o'er-brimmed  with  pulsing  song. 

Not  so,  mine  own,  as  legends  tell, 

In  lands  remote,  beyond  the  day, 

The  soulless  babes  of  Lilith  dwell, 

Or  vanish  'mong  the  cold  mists  gray. 

Or   oft   in   elfin   glee   they   ride 

O'er   burning   deserts   blown   adrift, 

Or   singing  idly,    idly   glide 

Afar   beyond   Night's   purple   rift. 


102  LIL1TH. 

But   thou,   my  babe,   for  thee   shall   grow 
The    lilies,    nodding   by   the    stream ; 

For   thee,    the    poppy's   sleepy   glow; 
For   thee,   the   jonquil's   pallid  gleam. 

My   baby,    sleep!     Against   the    sky 
The    pippul  lifts   its   trembling   crest. 

O   baby,    hush   each  wailing   cry, 
Close   to   the   holy  river's   breast. 

Not   here    shall   come   that   pale  wraith   fair, 
Who,    wandering   once   in    Northern   lands, 

Bore    o'er   long   reaches    sere    and   bare 
The   death-flower  white,   for   baby   hands. 

Fear   not,    mine    own,    the    Elf-babes    shrill, 
Nor   Lilith   tall,   with   brow   of   snow. 

They   may   not   haunt   thy   slumbers    still 
Where   Ganges'   sacred   waters  flow. 

Where   coral   reefs   gnaw  with   white   cruel   teeth 
The   yellow   surf,  and   the   torn   billows  seethe  — 
When    shines   the    Southern    Cross   o'er  placid   isles, 
The    Afric  mother   sits,    and   singing,    smiles, 
Unheeding  that    a   dead  world's   hidden   pain 
Beats   wildly   rhythmic    through   her   pure    refrain, 
And   lingers    softly   still    an     echoed   sigh 
Low   in    Earth's    cradle-song  —  sweet    lullaby. 
A   warning   song   of   doom  —  a   song   of   woe, 
Of   terror   wild,   she    sings,   down   bending  low, 
The   while   bright  gleams   the    Starry   Cross   above 
Yet   tells   to   her   no   tale   of  tender   love 
Of   Him   who   lifteth   after-time    a   cross 
That   healeth   all  the   wide   world's   sin   and   loss. 


LILITH.  103 

Ah,  linger  no  longer  'mong  blooms  of  the  mangoes, 
Nor  pluck  the  bright  shells  by  the  low  sighing  sea, 

Swift,    swift,    through    the   groves   of    the    palms    and 

acacias 
Comes  Lilith,  the  childless  one,   seeking  for  thee. 

She  will  bind  thee  so  fast  in  her  yellow-gold   hair  — 

Ah,    hasten,    my   children,    of   Lilith   beware ! 

Cold,    cold    are    her    cheeks    as    the    spray    of    the 

wild  sea, 

Red,  red  are  her  lips  as  the  pomegranate's  bloom ; 
Cold,    cold   are    the    kisses   the    phantom   will    give 

thee, 

Ah,   cruel   her  kisses,    that   smell   of   the   tomb. 
Hist,  hist!    'tis  the  sorceress  with  yellow-gold  hair  — 
Oh !   lullaby,   baby  —  of   Lilith   beware. 

She   flies   to   the    jungle,   with   false   tales   beguiling, 

Ah,  hear'st  thou  her  elfin  babes  scream  overhead  ! 

Close,  close  in   her  strong  arms   she  bears  my  babe, 

smiling ; 
She  hath  sucked  the  soft  bloom   from  the   lips   of 

my   dead. 
Now    far     speeds     the     vampire,     with     yellow-gold 

hair  — 
Oh !   lullaby,   baby  —  of    Lilith   beware  ! 

Art   frighted,    my  baby  ?    Nay,  then,  thy   mother 
Low  singing  enfolds  thee  all  safe  from  the  snare ; 

Afar   flit   the  Elf-babes    'mid   gray,    misty   shadows, 
Afar   flees   the    temptress   with   yellow-gold   hair. 

Ah,  heed  not   her  songs  in  the  still  slumbrous  air  — 

Oh !   lullaby,   baby  —  of   Lilith   beware  ! 

When   hawthorn-trees  sift  thick  their  rifted   snow, 
The   English   mother  o'er   her  babe   sings   low; 
Where   red   the   cross  burns   on   the    ivied   fane, 
Unwitting,   pagan   Lilith   lives   again  — 


io4  LILITH. 

And    softer   sings,  nor  feels   the   wailing   pain 
Still    faintly    surging   through   that   low   refrain ; 
Nor    dreams    she    hears   Love's   early   cradle   cry 
Slow  echoing    through  Earth's  song — sweet  lullaby 
And   in    the    shadow    of    that   cross,    her   strain 
Breathes  sweetly;  love,   and  hope,  and  ended  pain. 
Softlier   while    that    small    arm    closely   clings 
About   her   heart,    that   mother    peaceful    sings : 

O   babe,  my    babe,    the  light    doth   fade  ! 

My   baby,    sleep,  while    I   do   keep 
Close  watch,    where    thou    art    lowly  laid. 

Sweet    dreams    shall    steep   thy   slumber  deep. 
Ah,  little    feet,   be    still    at   last  — 
Rest   all    the    night,  for   day   is   past ; 
One    watches    thee    from   yon   blue  sky, 
One    watching    here    sings    lullaby, 
Lullaby ; 
Sings    lullaby. 

Here    on   his    bed   the    sunny  head 

Lies    still ;     and    soft   the   brown   eyes   close ; 

Sweet    steals    the    breath,    'twixt   lips  as   red, 
As    dewy    fresh,    as    new-born   rose. 

O    little    lips,  be    hushed   at   last ; 

Fear    naught,   sweetheart,  though   day   be   past. 

One    looks    adown   from   yon   far   sky, 

One    close    beside,    sings   lullaby, 
Lullaby ; 
Sings    lullaby. 


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Sinner  and  Saint.     I2mo,  cloth,  $1.25. 
Our  Sabbath  Evening.     i6mo,  cloth,  $1.25, 

E.  E.  Hale  and  Miss  Susan  Hale. 

A  Family  Flight  through  France,  Germany,  Nor 
way  and  Switzerland.  Octavo,  cloth,  illust.,  $2.50. 


D.  Lothrop  6-  Co.,  Publishers. 

Tip  Lewis  and  his  Lamp.      Three  People. 
Wise  and  Otherwise. 
\2inn,  clolh,  $1.25  Each. 

Cunning  Workmen.  Dr.  Deane's  Way. 

Miss  Priscilla  Hunter  and     Grandpa's  Darlings. 
My  Daughter  Susan.  Mrs.  Deane's  Way. 

What  She  Said,  Pansy  Scrap  Book, 

and  What  she  Meant.         (Former  title,  the  Teach« 

ers'  Helper.) 
izmo,  cloth,  $1.00  Each. 
Next  Things.  Mrs.  Harry  Harper's 

Awakening. 
Some  Young  Heroines.          Five  Friends. 

I2mo,  cloth,  75  cts.  Each. 
Bernie's  White  Chicken.        Docias'  Journal. 
Getting  Ahead.  Helen  Lester. 

Jessie  Wells.  Six  Little  Girls. 

That  Boy  Bob.  Two  Boys. 

Mary  Burton  Abroad. 

Pansy's  Picture  Book.  4to,  board,  $1.50 ;  cloth,  $2.00. 
The   Little   Pansy  Series.     10  volumes.      Boards, 
$3.00 ;  cloth,  $4.00. 

Nora  Perry. 

Bessie's  Trials  at  Boarding-school.     I2mo,  $1.25. 
Austin  Phelps. 

The  Still  Hour.     i6mo,  cloth,  $.60;  gilt,  $1.00. 
Work  of  the  Holy  Spirit.     i6mo,  cloth,  $1.25. 

Edward  A.  Rand. 

Roy's  Dory.     I2mo,  cloth,  illust.,  $1.25. 

Pushing  Ahead.     I2mo,  cloth,  illust.,  $1.25. 

After  the  Freshet.     I2ino,  cloth,  $1.25. 

All  Aboard  for  Sunrise   Lands.       Illust.,  boards, 

$1.75;  cloth,  $2.25. 

Tent  in  the  Notch.     i6mo,  cloth,  illust ,  $1.00. 
Bark  Cabin.     i6mo,  cloth,  illust.,  $i.co. 

Margaret  Sidney. 

Five  Little  Peppers.     I2mo,  cloth,  illust.,  #1.50. 


MARGARET    SIDNEY'S    BOOKS. 

Margaret  Sidney  may  be  safely  set  down  as  one  of  the  best  writers  of 
juvenile  literature  in  the  country.  — Boston  Transcript. 

Margaret  Sidney's  books  are  happily  described  as  "strong  and  pure 
from  cover  to  cover,  .  .  bright  and  piquant  as  the  mountain  breezes,  or 
a  dash  on  pony  back  of  a  June  morning."  The  same  writer  speaks  of  her 
as  "  An  American  authoress  who  will  hold  her  own  in  the  competitive 
good  work  executed  by  the  many  bright  writing  women  of  to-day." 

There  are  few  better  story  writers  than  Margaret  Sidney.  —  Herald 
and  Presbyter. 

Comments  of  the  Secular  anil  Religion!*  Press. 

FIVE  LITTLE  PEPPERS  AND  HOW  THEY  GREW. 

A  charming  work.  .  .  The  home  scenes  in  which  these  little  Pep 
pers  are  engaged  are  capitally  described.  .  .  Will  find  prominent  place 
among  the  higher  class  of  juvenile  presentation  books.—  Religious  Herald. 

One  of  the  best  told  tales  given  to  the  children  for  some  time.  .  . 
The  perfect  reproduction  of  child-life  in  its  minutest  phases,  catches  one's 
attention  at  once.  — Christian  Advocate. 

A  good  book  to  place  in  the  hands  of   every  boy  or  girl.  —  Chicago 
Inter-Ocean. 
SO  AS  BY  FIRE. 

Will  ba  hai'ed  with  eager  delight,  and  found  well  worth  reading.— 
Christian  Observer. 

An  admirable  Sunday-school  book  — Arkansas  Evangel. 

We  have  followed  with  intense  interest  the  story  of  Davi.1  Folsom.     . 
A  man  poor,  friendless,  and  addicted  to  drink ;     .     .     the  influence 
of  little  Cricket;     .     .     the  faithful  care  of  aunt   Phebe;    all  steps  by 
which  he  climbed  to  higher  manhood.  —  Woman  at  // •  ork. 
THE  PETTIBONE  NAME. 

It  is  one  of  the  finest  nieces  of  American  fiction  that  has  been  pub 
lished  for  some  time.  —  Newsdealers'  Bulletin,  New  York. 

It  ought  to  attract  wide  attention  from  the  simplicity  of  its  style,  and 
the  vigor  and  originality  of  its  treatment.  —  Chicago  Herald. 

This  is  a  capital  story  illustrating  New  England  life.—  Inter-Ocean, 
Chicago. 

The  characters  of  the  story  seem  all  to  be  studies  from  life.  —  Boston 
Post. 

It  is  a  New  Enjland  tale,  and  its  characters  are  true  to  the  original 
tvp°,  and  show  careful  study  and  no  little  skill  in  portraiture.  —  Christian 
at  Work,  New  York. 

To  be  commended  to  readers  for  excellent  delineations,  sparkling  style, 
bright  incident  and  genuine  interest  —  The  Watchman. 

A  capital  story;  bright  with  excellent  sketches  of  character.     Conveys 
p;ood  moral  and  spiritual   lessons.     .     .     In  short,  the  book  is  in  every 
way  well  done.    -  Illustrated  Christian  Weekly. 
HALF  YEAR  AT  BRONCKTON. 

A  live  boy  writes:  "  This  is  about  the  best  book  that  ever  was  written 
or  ever  can  be." 

"  This  bright  and  earnest  story  ought  to  go  into  the  han^s  of  every  boy 
who  is  old  enough  to  be  subjected  to  the  temptations  of  school  life." 

D.  LOTHBOP  &  CO.,  Publishers,  Boston. 


Books  of  the  Celebrated  Prize 
Series. 

The  preparation  of  this  famous  series  was  a  happy  inspiration.  No  books 
for  the  young  worthy  of  circulation  have  ever  met  so  warm  a  welcome  or 
had  a  wider  sale.  The  fact  that  each  of  them  has  passed  the  criticism  of 
a  committee  of  clergymen  of  different  denominations,  men  of  high  scholar 
ship,  excellent  literary  taste,  wide  observation,  and  rare  good  judgment, 
is  a  commendation  in  itself  sufficient  to  secure  for  these  books  the  widest 
welcome.  The  fact  that  they  are  found,  in  every  instance,  to  be  fully 
worthy  of  such  high  commendation,  accounts  for  their  continued  and  in 
creasing  popularity. 

The  $1OOO  prize  Books.    A  fresh  edition  in  new  style  of 
binding. 
16  vols.     i2mo $24.50 

The  New  $5OO  Prize  Series.    A  fresh  edition  in  new  style  of 
binding. 
13  vols.     i2mo..   $16.75 

The  Original  $50O  Prize  Series.    A  fresh  edition  in  new 
style  of  binding. 
8  vols.     i2mo $12.00 

The  Original  $500  Prize  Stones. 

Andy  Lttttrell.     $1.50.  Sabrina  Hackett.     $1.50. 

Shining  Hours.     $1.50.  Aunt  Matty      $1.50. 

Master  and  Pupil.     $1.50.  Light  from  the  Cross.     $1.50. 

May  Bell.    $1.50.  Contradictions.    $1.50. 

New  $500  Prize  Series. 

Short-Comings  and  Long-Goings.  The  Flower  by  the  Prison.    $1.35. 

$1.25.  Trifles.     $1.25. 

Lute  Falconer.     $1.50.  The  Judge's  Sons     $1.50. 

Hester's  Happy  Summer.     $1.25.  Daisy  Seymour     $1.25. 

One  Year  of  My  Life.     $1.25.  Olive  Lonngs  Mission.     $1.25. 

Building-Stones.     $1.25,  The  Torch-Bearers.     $125. 

Susy's  Spectacles.    $1.25.  The  Trapper's  Niece.    $1.25. 

The  $1000  Prize  Series. 

Striking  for  the  Right.    $1.75.  Corning  to  the  Light.    $1.50. 

Walter  Macdonald      $1.50.  Ralph's  Possession.     $1.50. 

The  Wadsworth  Boys.     $1.50.  ^"ns^,j M°"ntayV    *I'5°«T  erL 

Silent  Tom.     $1.75-  The  Old  Stone  House.    $1.50, 

The  Blount  Family.     $1.50.  Golden  Lines.     *  150. 

The  Marble  Preacher.     $1.50.  Luck  of  Alden  I  arm      $1.50. 

Evening  Rest.     $1.50.  Glimpses  Through.     91.50. 

Margaret  Worthington.     $1.50.  Grace  Avery's  Influence.     $1.30. 

D.  LOTHROP  &  CO.,  Publishers,  Boston. 


Lothrop's  Historical  Library. 


EDITED  BY  ARTHUR  OILMAN,  M.  A. 

AMERICAN  PEOPLE.  By   Arthur  Oilman,  M.  A. 

INDIA.  By  Fannie  Roper  Feuclge. 

EGYPT.  By  Mrs.  Clara  Erskine  Clement. 

CHINA.  By  Robert  K.  Douglas. 

SPAIN.  By  Prof.  James  Herbert  Harrison. 

SWITZERLAND.  By  Miss  Harriet  D.  S.  MacKenzie. 
JAPAN,  and  its  Leading  Men.  By  Charles  Lanman. 
ALASKA :  The  Sitkan  Archipelago. 

By  Eliza  Ruhamah  Scidmore. 

Other  volumes  in  preparation. 

Each  volume  12  me,  Illustrated,  cloth,  $1.50. 

D.  LOTHROP  &  CO.,  Publishers, 

Franklin  and  Hawley  Streets,  Boston. 


Spare  Minute  Series. 


THOUGHTS  THAT  BREATHE. 

From  Dean  Stanley.     Introduction  by  Phillips  Brooks. 

CHEERFUL  WORDS. 

From  George  MacDonald.     Introduction  by  James  T.  Fields. 

THE  MIGHT  OF  RIGHT. 

From  Rt.  Hon.  Wm.  E.  Gladstone.     Introduction  by  John  D. 
Long,  LL.  D. 

TRUE  MANLINESS. 

From  Thomas  Hughes.   Introduction  by  lion.  James  Russell 
Lowell. 

LIVING  TRUTHS. 
From  Charles  Kingsley.     Introduction  by  W.  D.  Howells. 

RIGHT  TO  THE  POINT. 

From  Theodore   L.   Cuyler,  D.  D.     Introduction  by  New 
man  Hall,  LL.  B. 

MANY  COLORED  THREADS. 
From  Goethe.   Introduction  by  Alexander  McKenzie,  D.D. 

Each  volume,  12  mo,  doth,  $1.00. 

D.  LOTHROP  &  CO.,  Publishers, 

Franklin  and  Hawley  Streets,  Boston. 


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